Stress-related absence is rising. Time to invest in healthier teams.

The number of days lost to stress-related absence rose by 12% in one year. Over five years, the increase is 49%. Behind those figures are employees struggling to cope, families feeling the effects and colleagues picking up extra work. For employers, the question is: how can we help people stay healthy, energised and able to work over the long term?

Long absences affect the whole team

The latest figures from Dutch occupational health providers ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare show the scale of the impact. Employees absent because of stress are away for an average of 257 days. For burnout, the average rises to 338 days.

For employees, that means a difficult period of recovery. For organisations, it means lost knowledge and capacity, uncertainty about their return and added pressure on the team.

That is why mental vitality deserves sustained attention. There are opportunities to make adjustments together while people are still at work.

Recognise signs sooner, offer support earlier

The occupational health providers stress the importance of spotting and discussing signs of overload early. Adequate recovery, a healthy work-life balance and attention to working conditions can help prevent prolonged absence.

This calls for a workplace where people feel able to say when things are getting too much. Where priorities are clear, expectations remain realistic and tasks or working hours can be adjusted.

A conversation only matters if it leads to action. Which demands can be reduced? Where is more room for recovery needed? And what professional support might help?

Work and home meet in the same person

Employees bring their lives to work. Caring for a relative, financial worries, relationship difficulties or concerns about a child do not disappear when the working day begins. Equally, a demanding day at work can affect the evening, sleep and family life.

According to ArboNed, several factors usually contribute to stress-related absence at the same time. It is often the combined weight of what someone is carrying at work and at home.

Employers do not have to solve every one of those problems themselves. But they can ensure employees have access to someone who listens, helps and, where needed, provides treatment. Confidentially, professionally and without unnecessary barriers.

That is why supporting the family matters for sustainable employability too. What happens at home affects how someone feels and functions.

How do you know whether someone is recovering enough?

We regularly ask how someone is doing. But the answer does not always tell the whole story. People can become used to a packed schedule and too little time to recover. Carrying on can begin to feel normal.

Objective measurements can add depth to the conversation.

With a multi-day ECG measurement, we examine heart rate variability, or HRV, among other indicators. It provides information about physical strain and recovery during everyday activities and overnight.

When does the body settle? Which moments use the most energy? And what does the balance between strain and recovery look like over several days?

These insights need professional interpretation. HRV is also influenced by factors such as movement and breathing. A measurement alone cannot diagnose burnout. Together with questionnaires and a personal conversation, it can help reveal patterns and guide the next steps.

The measurement provides insight. Guidance helps turn that insight into change.

From insight to greater vitality

At MentalCareDirect™, we bring together prevention, guidance and psychological care.

Through YourOptimalYou™, we combine multi-day ECG measurements and psychological questionnaires with personal guidance. This helps employees work on the balance between strain and recovery. When treatment is appropriate, we provide access to DeBedrijfspsycholoog for basic mental health care. Depending on the chosen package, support for family members is available too.

Personal health data remains confidential. Employers receive only anonymised team-level insights. This lets them track trends and identify areas that need attention without seeing anyone’s individual health information.

Measurements and guidance go hand in hand with attention to how work is organised. Vitality also depends on achievable expectations, clear priorities and enough room for recovery.

Because your people matter

Investing in mental vitality means employees know their wellbeing matters. That support is available before problems take over everyday life. And that professional help is there when they need it.

That is the foundation on which MentalCareDirect™ helps build healthier teams and sustainable employability.

Mentally healthy. Feeling well. Strong in life.
At work and at home.

Want to know what this approach could mean for your organisation? Visit MentalCareDirect™ or arrange an introductory conversation.