The stress at work or the occupational burnoutalso called “burnout”costs the UK economy £28 billion, almost €32 billion, and leads to 23.3 million sick leave days, according to research published today.

Britons are “more likely to have mental health problems than any other” in the countries covered by the analysis, according to the authors of the survey, which was carried out on behalf of French insurer Axa and UK economic research center CEBR.

Their findings are based on an Ipsos poll of 30,000 people aged 18 to 74 in 16 countries and territories around the world. According to them, 21% of British adults experience emotional stress, ahead of the US (17%), Belgium (11%), France (10%), China (10%) or even Switzerland (9 %).

“Around half of Britons are currently not in a state of mental wellbeing and are at risk of burnout, which is having a significant impact on the UK economy and businesses,” according to the statement.

The cost of living crisis in the UK appears to be having a particularly negative impact, according to the survey’s authors, in a country where inflation rose to 10.4% year-on-year in February, eroding Britons’ purchasing power.

CEBR figures show that financial stress and employee anxieties are costing UK businesses themselves up to £6.2bn in sick leave and lost productivity.

The report, however, shows signs of improvement in Britain “as the stigma attached to mental health problems is reduced” and there is a marked increase in the number of people who are, on the contrary, “in a very good mental state”: they represent 23% of respondents .