Psychological disorders became the leading cause of long-term work absences in France in 2025, accounting for 37.8% of absences longer than 30 days, ahead of musculoskeletal disorders. This unprecedented shift since monitoring began in 2020 redefines how health and wellness practices should be approached.
Mental health, declared a National Major Cause in 2025, saw this status extended into 2026 with the ambition of integrating this dimension into all public policies: education, work, urban planning. The framework has changed, and preventive habits must follow suit.
Related reading : The best tips and tricks to enhance the magic of parenting
Mental health at work: what recent data reveals
Between January 2025 and January 2026, the well-being score of French employees (WHO-5 index from WHO) increased from about 60% to over 62%. The proportion of workers in a state of mental well-being rose from 70% to 74%, accompanied by a decrease in sleep disorders and work-related irritability.
These figures seem encouraging. However, the simultaneous rise in long-term absences due to depression, burnout, and anxiety raises a question that averages alone cannot resolve: does the improvement concern all employee profiles, or does it mask a widening gap between those who are doing better and those who are struggling long-term?
Related reading : Everything for Baby's Awakening and Well-Being: Essential Ideas and Tips
Those who wish to delve deeper into the subject can learn everything about Health and Well-Being by consulting the resources dedicated to daily prevention practices.
Field reports vary on this point. Some companies that have implemented psychological support systems report a decrease in short-term absenteeism, while others find that long-term absences continue to rise despite internal programs. The available data does not yet allow for a conclusion on the comparative effectiveness of these approaches.
Health prevention: CNAM’s shift towards 2027
The National Health Insurance Fund has initiated a preventive shift with a horizon set for 2027. The stated goal is to shift resources from curative to preventive, targeting daily behaviors: diet, physical activity, stress management, regular monitoring.
This institutional repositioning has concrete consequences for individual practices. It is no longer just about consulting when a symptom appears, but about integrating preventive routines over the long term.
What this shift changes for daily life
The prevention as envisioned by CNAM is based on three axes that directly affect the habits of the French:
- Early detection of psychological disorders, particularly in the workplace, using standardized tools to identify weak signals (chronic fatigue, social withdrawal, persistent irritability).
- Integration of adapted physical activity into care pathways, not just as a general recommendation but as a measurable and monitored prescription.
- Strengthening personalized nutritional support, in connection with treating physicians, to go beyond generic advice on balanced diets.
The implementation remains to be observed. The financial resources allocated to this preventive shift will determine whether it is a structural change or merely a statement of intent.
Social isolation and well-being: an underestimated variable
The work of CEPREMAP on isolation and loneliness highlights a factor degrading well-being that traditional advice lists rarely address directly. Social isolation acts as an amplifier of risks to physical and mental health, with effects comparable to those of well-documented risky behaviors.
The extension of the National Major Cause in 2026 incorporates this dimension. The planned actions aim to address environments (schools, workplaces, neighborhoods) rather than solely individual responsibility. This is a change in logic: instead of asking isolated individuals to “go out and see the world,” the public framework seeks to modify the conditions that produce isolation.
Hybrid work and social connection
Widespread telecommuting in recent years has produced mixed effects. According to Eurofound data, remote work enhances autonomy but weakens the sense of belonging when it exceeds a certain weekly volume. Hybrid teams report both greater flexibility and more difficulty maintaining quality professional relationships.
Generative artificial intelligence tools, increasingly present in workflows, add a layer of complexity. They reduce some repetitive tasks but can also intensify screen time and reduce direct human interactions.
Physical health and mental balance: links clarified by research
A meta-analysis published in PubMed Central in 2025 confirms the bidirectional link between physical activity and mental health. Regular exercise not only reduces depressive symptoms: it alters the neurobiological response to stress.
What distinguishes recent data from usual recommendations is the precision regarding thresholds. The most marked benefits appear with moderate and regular practice, not necessarily intensive. Regularity matters more than intensity for effects on mood and sleep.
- Outdoor activities show greater benefits than indoor activities for reducing anxiety.
- Mind-body practices (yoga, tai chi, heart coherence) have specific results on managing work-related stress.
- Social physical activity (team sports, group walking) simultaneously impacts isolation and inflammatory markers.
The French healthcare system, between the extension of the National Major Cause and the preventive shift of CNAM, has a renewed institutional framework. The concrete translation of these orientations into the daily practices of the French remains the real challenge of the coming months.