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Historic Record of Mental Health Leave Exposes Pressure on Essential Professions and Broadens Debate on Working Conditions, Economic Impact, and New Regulatory Rules in Brazil.
Brazil granted 546,254 temporary disability benefits related to mental and behavioral disorders in 2025, the highest volume ever recorded in the recent series by the Ministry of Social Security.
The number represents an increase of 15.66% compared to 2024, when 472,328 benefits were granted, consolidating the second consecutive annual record.
Among the occupations with the highest number of absences are functions widely present in the daily life of cities.
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This group includes retail salesperson, janitor, office assistant, administrative assistant, and production line feeder.
The survey considers more than two thousand professional occupations and is based on records from the National Institute of Social Security.
The classification was developed from a list of occupations created by the International Labor Organization in partnership with the Public Labor Ministry.
The consolidated data covers the period from 2012 to 2024. The cut includes absences related to work-related accidents or not.
The figures for 2025 reflect the total number of benefits granted throughout the year.
Most Affected Professions and Patterns Identified in the Labor Market
The recurring presence of these functions at the top of the rankings reflects common characteristics noted in analyses by public agencies and labor experts.
In general, these are activities with high turnover, lower job stability, and strong pressure for productivity.
These factors are often associated with greater psychological wear and tear.
In retail, studies on worker health cite variable compensation linked to targets and constant contact with the public as risk elements.
In cleaning and support services, long hours and little autonomy in task organization frequently appear.
In administrative areas, technical assessments mention overload of demands and strict deadline control.
According to Raymundo Lima Ribeiro Júnior, a prosecutor from the Public Labor Ministry, investigations conducted by the agency indicate that the combination of precarious links and overload contributes to the increase in mental health issues.
He states that there are cases where companies control break times in detail, even for basic needs.
This practice, according to the prosecutor, can intensify occupational stress.
Labor auditor Odete Cristina Pereira Reis, national coordinator of Inspection in Psychosocial Risks, assesses that the ranking highlights a structural pattern in the labor market.
In the auditor’s analysis, low salaries and reduced functional autonomy limit workers’ decision-making capacity.
This scenario tends to elevate tension levels and hinder professional development trajectories.
Anxiety and Depression Lead Absence Diagnoses
Anxiety disorders were the leading causes of absence for mental health reasons in 2025.
Throughout the year, 166,489 benefits were granted for this reason.
Following that are depressive episodes, responsible for 126,608 licenses.
The data is in the administrative records of the Social Security.
Other diagnoses also rank among the most frequent.
Among them are bipolar disorder, severe stress, schizophrenia, substance dependence, and alcoholism.
All showed growth compared to the previous year, according to official statistics.
The numbers disclosed refer to the total number of benefits granted, not the number of distinct workers.
The same person may receive more than one temporary disability leave during the year.
Sick Leaves Increase and Raise Financial Impact
In 2025, Brazil recorded about 4.12 million sick leaves.
This was the highest level in the last five years.
Within this total, mental and behavioral disorders accounted for more than half a million grants.
This figure reinforces the growing trend observed since 2024.
The financial impact of mental health leaves is not specifically detailed by the INSS.
Still, analyses on the topic use estimates based on average leaves of around three months.
The payments considered are around R$ 2,500 per benefit.
Based on these parameters, the potential cost may approach R$ 4 billion in 2025.
The final amount depends on the actual duration of the leaves and each insured’s contribution salary.
Statistics also indicate that women account for the majority of sick leaves for mental disorders.
At the same time, social security data shows that they receive, on average, benefits of lower value than men.
The difference is associated with wage inequalities and contribution history.
Labor Regulation and Focus on Psychosocial Risks
The rise in leaves has reignited the debate on prevention in the workplace.
The discussion gained momentum after the update of Regulatory Norm No. 1.
The rule addresses Occupational Risk Management.
The regulation began to include psychosocial risks, such as excessive targets, extended working hours, moral harassment, and lack of organizational support.
After pressures from business and trade union entities, the federal government decided to postpone the full implementation of these requirements.
The new deadline set is May, according to recent statements from the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
The ministry stated that there is no forecast for a new extension.
In the international scenario, the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization estimate that depression and anxiety cause the loss of about 12 billion working days per year worldwide.
The global economic impact is estimated at approximately US$ 1 trillion.
With record numbers and regulatory changes underway, how can the Brazilian labor market reduce factors associated with mental illness without compromising job creation?
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