Finland ranks second in EU for work-related mental health symptoms

Forty-five percent of employees in Finland experience work-related stress, depression or anxiety, according to Yle. The figure is among the highest in the European Union, with only Greece reporting a higher share.

The findings come from the 2025 OSH Pulse survey, which examined how psychosocial risks, climate change and the use of digital technologies affect employees’ mental health, as well as how workplaces respond to these problems.

In Denmark, work-related psychological symptoms were reported by 19 percent of employees, the lowest rate in the EU. Across the bloc, 29 percent of employees said their work had harmed their mental wellbeing.

Parliament calls for stronger employer responsibility

The European Parliament is calling for new legislation to provide better protection for workers’ mental and physical health. A parliamentary committee approved the legislative initiative in early September by 41 votes to 12.

The initiative would require employers to regularly assess psychosocial risks, including excessive workloads and intense work pace. Employers would also be expected to respond to employees’ psychological symptoms, for example by agreeing on remote work.

According to the European Parliament, employers should also define and prohibit harassment, bullying and discrimination in the workplace more clearly.

Estelle Ceulemans, the member of the European Parliament who presented the initiative, said work-related depression costs EU countries about 100 billion euros each year.