Mental health problems are currently the leading cause of work absenteeism.

Omissions

• No EU-wide (Eurostat) breakdown of work absenteeism BY CAUSE exists; Eurostat records absenteeism in days, not by diagnosis. The sources found are national (Netherlands, UK, Germany), so the claim's EU-wide scope cannot be directly verified.
• The claim omits the distinction between short-term and long-term absence: in the Netherlands (CBS, 2025) mental complaints are only the SECOND most cited reason overall, after flu and cold; they are the leading cause only of long-term absence (40% in 2023).
• In Germany (AOK, 2024) mental health diagnoses accounted for only 12.5% of sick days, the THIRD-largest category after musculoskeletal (19.8%) and respiratory (15.1%), which qualifies the generalisation.
• The most recent data found is 2023-2025 and is national, not a harmonised EU figure for the reference period of the claim.

Sources

• SecondaryGGZ Nieuws (citing CBS, 2025)Na griep en verkoudheid vormen psychische klachten, zoals stress, overspannenheid en burn-out, de meest genoemde reden voor verzuim (CBS, 2025). — i.e. after flu and colds, psychological complaints are the most frequently cited reason for absenteeism (Netherlands).
• SecondaryVZinfo.nl (Volksgezondheid en Zorg, Dutch government health information)Psychische klachten zijn daarmee met 40% de voornaamste oorzaak van langdurig verzuim in 2023, waarvan 29% door stress. — Psychological complaints are thus, at 40%, the main cause of long-term absenteeism in 2023, 29% of it due to stress.
• SecondaryThe Access Group — UK Sick Leave Report 2024–2025 (citing CIPD Health and Wellbeing report)Mental ill health is now the leading cause of long-term absence (41%) and the second most common cause of short-term absence (29%)... Minor illnesses remain the top reason for short-term absence (78%).
• Secondarybetriebsrat.de — Sick Leave in Europe (citing AOK data)According to AOK, one in eight sick days (12.5%) in 2024 were attributed to mental health diagnoses, making it the third-largest category after musculoskeletal (19.8%) and respiratory issues (15.1%).