A new survey is launching ahead of this week’s World Mental Health Day (October 10) to help take stock of the mental health of Hull’s workforce. The long-term goal of the research is to help reduce work-related stress, and improve mental health and wellbeing at work.
Businesses and employers around the city will be urged to complete the survey, when it launches at on October 5. Questions look at what mental health support is available within local businesses, how conversations about stress and wellbeing happen at work, how businesses manage work-related stress, barriers to providing support and more.
The survey is led by Hull City Council’s Public Protection Team, which has responsibility for workplace health and safety, along with the Health and Safety Executive.
Improving the management of work-related stress and mental health and wellbeing at work is a priority for the Hull City Council and its partners. In Hull, 6,000 people took time off work for stress, anxiety or depression in 2025. Local research shows 40 per cent of people in the city say their mental health can be negatively affected by work, but nearly half would not feel comfortable speaking to their employer about it.
Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, and Business Engagement Lead, said: “Employers have a critical role to play in the wellness of our local workforce. The management of stress and mental health in the workplace and have significant consequences, for individuals, the wider workforce, and employers.
“Last year 6.000 people needed time off work for stress, anxiety and depression. Of course, much of this will not have been work-related, but work is a big part of our lives and can have a huge impact on our level of stress, mental health and wellbeing. How employers support their workforce to manage these issues is vital for workers’ health, recovery and capacity to manage any mental health issues in a way that allows them to continue working.
“We already work closely with our local businesses, and we know many of you are already be doing the right things, others will have ways they could improve. This survey is about identifying where those gaps are, and how we can support our local employers to close them.
“We all benefit from workplaces which create a supportive environment where workers know how to talk about problems, and get help”.
Employers can complete the survey here: Stress and Wellbeing at Work survey 2026. It is open from October 5 to November 16 2026.
