More than 8,40,000 people die each year around the globe from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks, including long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment, according to a new global report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) released in Geneva on Wednesday (April 22, 2026). These work-related psychosocial risks are mainly associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, including suicide, according to the report titled ‘The Psychosocial Working Environment: Global Developments and Pathways for Action’.
The report prescribes policy interventions both at the levels of government and industry to address the situation, along with empowering collectivisation of the workforce.
Such a report, prepared for the first time by the ILO, said work-related psychosocial risks represent a major and growing threat to workers’ safety and health, organisational productivity, and broader economic performance. Psychosocial risk factors are responsible for more than 8,40,000 deaths annually due to associated cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, the report added. “These risks also lead to nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost each year. The combined impact of cardiovascular disease and mental disorders associated with psychosocial risk factors is estimated to result in 1.37% of global GDP lost annually,” the report said.
