Mental health has been found to account for up to 7% of all monthly healthcare claims, second to musculoskeletal issues and cancer, according to Healix Health.
The corporate healthcare trust provider’s analysis of claims data from January 2024 to early 2026 was published to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May 2026).
The findings highlighted that mental health accounts for 4 to 7% of all monthly claims, with anxiety, depression and stress making up the majority of them. Mental health claims peaked in April at 7.2% in 2024 and 7.7% in 2025, which the provider stated is when employer benefit renewal communications are typically at their highest.
Mental health support queries rose by around 10% in the weeks following Mental Health Awareness Week in both May 2023 and May 2024. It then returned to baseline figures by June.
The 30 to 39 age group saw the largest share of mental health claims at 28%, followed by 20 to 29 year olds at 21%. The two groups together made up 49% of all treatment activity.
Younger employees were the most likely to seek mental health support when adjusted for population size. The 15 to 19 and 20 to 29 age groups accessed services at the highest rates, with uptake declining steadily with age.
Furthermore, 59% to 60% of claims were from women, and 40% to 41% from men.
Keira Wallis, head of clinical operations at Healix Health, said: “The consistency of these numbers is what stands out. Mental health is not a spike we saw during the pandemic that has since settled down. It is a permanent and significant part of what employees need support with, year in, year out. That should change how employers think about it.
“What the data also shows is that employees are far more likely to engage with mental health support when their employer makes it visible and easy to access. The spring peak we see each year lines up with benefit renewal communications, not awareness weeks. Awareness has a role to play, but operational action, clear pathways, well-informed managers, and benefits people actually know how to use, is what translates awareness into support.”
