Mental health accounts for 984 sick days at Mid and East Antrim council

Sunday 04 October 2026

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council recorded 2,424 days lost to staff sickness in the final four months of 2025/26, although average absence fell below its target and improved on the previous year.

Councillors were told that 155 employees were absent between 1 December 2025 and 31 March 2026, with mental health-related absence accounting for the largest number of days lost.

The figures were presented to the council’s Corporate Resources, Policy and Governance Committee at a recent meeting at The Braid in Ballymena.

Absence below council target

The total equated to 4.68 days per full-time employee over the four-month period, below the council’s target of five days and down from 5.1 days during the same period a year earlier.

The report also recorded a “significant decrease” in absence across the full 2025/26 year compared with 2024/25.

Almost 66 per cent of staff had no sickness absence during the four-month reporting period.

Reasons for sickness absence

Mental health-related absence accounted for 984 days lost, the highest total among the reported causes.

The breakdown of employees absent included 43 due to infection; 34 in the stomach, liver and kidney category; and 32 in the stress, depression and fatigue category.

A further 12 employees were absent with musculoskeletal conditions and nine with chest and respiratory conditions, among other causes.

NHS waiting lists affecting staff

The report said council staff, like others in the community, “continue to experience significant delays in accessing initial NHS consultant appointments, diagnostic procedures and other surgical interventions and treatments”.

It stated:

“This means that in some cases, the employee’s condition is deteriorating to the extent that they are unable to work until surgery has been completed. This has continued to contribute towards higher levels of absence during 2025/26 and unfortunately, it would appear that the impact of lengthy waiting lists is likely to be felt for some time.”

Support available to employees

The report said the year-end improvement reflected the council’s efforts and resources devoted to managing absence.

The council has “continued to implement a positive mental health and well-being action plan to support staff”, it added.

Support includes an employee assistance programme incorporating counselling and a health cash plan offering financial assistance towards physiotherapy, podiatry, optometry, diagnostic tests and scans.

Thirteen people have also been trained to offer mental health first aid.