A study estimates, for 2022, the cost of mental health for working people at €24.7 billion (psychological disorders and psychotropic treatments). The average annual cost per patient for Health Insurance is €7,800 in the event of pathology compared to €1,700 for psychotropic treatment.
For the first time, a study evaluates the cost of the mental health of working people. Initiated by the Acteurs de la French Care association and MGEN, this study was carried out by the Asterès firm and presented at PariSanté Campus on November 26, 2025 during a conference on Mental Health, Great National Cause 2025. The study estimates for 2022 a tangible cost of €24.7 billion linked to psychological disorders and psychotropic treatments among 3.4 million workers, including one significant proportion of women. The Actors of La French Care, for whom this alarming situation calls for a preventive shift, are formulating 10 operational recommendations aimed at removing taboos in the world of work and better supporting the working population.
An annual cost of €25 billion which reveals unease among working people
At the European level, the OECD estimates that the economic impact of mental disorders represents around 4% of GDP. The Asterès study reveals that 3.4 million French workers were affected by mental illnesses or the taking of psychotropic treatments in 2022, representing a coverall cost of nearly 25 billion euros: €14.8 billion borne by Health Insurance, €7.6 billion by employers and €2.3 billion by complementary organizations. This amount is equivalent to 1.1% of French GDP.
The average annual cost per patient for Health Insurance is €7,800 in the event of pathology compared to €1,700 for psychotropic treatment. For employers, the average annual cost per patient is close: €2,300 (pathology) compared to €2,200 (psychotropic treatment). For complementary organizations, the average cost per patient is estimated at €800 for psychotropic treatment, compared to €500 in the case of pathology.
These figures reflect worrying human and professional realities: almost 20% of sick leave is linked to psychological disorders and almost one in two workers say they have already been confronted with a situation of intense stress or psychosocial risks.
Women, the primary consumers of psychotropic drugs, excluding pathology
Among the 3.4 million workers concerned, 1.5 million suffer from psychiatric pathologies and 1.9 million consume psychotropic medications without an associated diagnosis. In this second category, working women are particularly affected, with 6.5% of them affected, compared to 3.6% of working men.
The rate of antidepressant consumption among women aged 30 to 49 is 2.7 times higher than that of men.
If men and women are affected almost equally by psychiatric pathologies, women are more affected by neurotic disorders, men by addictive and psychotic disorders.
An essential preventive shift
These findings underline the importance of targeted, long-term prevention. Mentalities must evolve, by removing taboos and supporting employees on a daily basis, in an adapted, personalized manner throughout life and according to the needs of organizations. For Antoine Tesnière, President of Acteurs de la French Care“With 3.4 million workers today affected by a disorder or treatment linked to mental health, there is an urgent need to invest in prevention and support in the world of work”.
Pour Jeremy Sure, director of strategy, transformation, cooperation, risks MGEN,“there is no health without mental health. She must be approached like physical health: a prerequisite for personal and professional development.”
Awareness raising, screening, support: the health prevention pathway must be redesigned in a global and personalized way
The French Care Actors and MGEN make 10 recommendations:
- Deploy a sustainable prevention policy by increasing treatment opportunities : face-to-face workshops, digital applications, occupational health mental health assessments, and integrated pathways promoting a gradual return to employment.
- Better detection by integrating early signals into the mental health nomenclature : today, almost 40% of disorders are not coded, delaying treatment.
- Better target prevention actions based on life situations.
- Deploy the First Aid in Mental Health (PSSM).
- Develop psychosocial skills from school and train managers to detect weak signals: better emotional regulation reduces the risk of depression or burn-out by 25%.
- Prevent situations of high tension at work: prolonged tension increases the risk of anxiety disorders by 2.3.
- A call for projects for the development of digital solutions dedicated to the world of work, making it possible in particular to combat the isolation which affects 60% of teleworkers.
- Improve access to care by strengthening the presence of occupational psychologists and mobile psychiatric teams: today, France has less than one occupational psychologist per 10,000 employees, a ratio much lower than that of the Nordic countries, for example.
- Strengthen the practice of physical activitywhich reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms by 30%.
- Support the mental health recovery process by implementing integrated pathways promoting a gradual return to employment (in particular with post-sick leave adaptation contracts, inspired by the Canadian model).
About the French Care Actors
The Les Acteurs de la French Care association is, with Bpifrance, co-founder of the French Care community. Its aim is to bring together all the players in the health sector in France who wish to invest in creating a unique place of exchange between private and public health players, of knowledge and promotion capable of constituting an “avant-garde” for French Care. The association chaired by Antoine Tesnière brings together and brings together private companies, startups, research institutes, public and private hospitals, biotechs, medtechs, groups of practitioners, health establishments, investment funds, banks, insurance companies. By participating in discussions during events, in the production of resources and the development of networks, members benefit fully from the dynamics of La French Care. Within the large French Care ecosystem, around forty healthcare players have chosen, by joining the Les Acteurs de la French Care association, a more marked commitment to the decompartmentalization of healthcare sectors. Their contributions make it possible to sustain this dynamic.
About MGEN
Founded in 1946, MGEN is today the first mutual insurance company for public service agents.
Photo : Faxliy
