Can P&C workplace stress lead to physical manifestations?

How are property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry professionals determining whether they have mental health concerns that need to be addressed?

Among respondents to Canadian Underwriter‘s 2025 mental health survey, 82% who say they do have mental health concerns indicate they’ve experienced ‘significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping’ at some point in their lives.

That’s up slightly from 79% reporting those experiences in 2024. And 73% report ‘feeling sad or down’ this year, compared to 70% in last year’s survey.

Other increases include:

• 57% report ‘confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate’ in 2025, up from 53% last year
• 55% say they experience ‘stomach pain, back pain, headaches or other unexplained physical ailments’ in this year’s survey, against 51% last year
• 21% say they’ve experienced ‘excessive anger, hostility or violence’ in 2025, compared to 17% in 2024.

Conducted in August, Canadian Underwriter’s annual mental health survey drew 532 responses from property and casualty insurance professionals representing a wide spectrum of the industry — including insurers, brokers, claims adjusters and risk management professionals.

Realted: P&C mental health: Are the kids alright?

One strong indicator that last year’s results, which showed high levels of burnout, were not exclusively driven by 2024’s summer of NatCats is that 15% of 2025 survey respondents say they’ve engaged in ‘suicidal thinking.’ That number’s statistically consistent from 16% in 2024.

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Suicidal thoughts are most common among newer entrants to the business (19%) and those at mid-career (18%). They’re less common among P&C industry veterans (11%).

Fifteen percent of respondents in both the 2024 and 2025 surveys say they have ‘problems with alcohol or drug use.’ The percentages are consistent across years of service within the P&C industry but are most common (19%) among those working in claims. 

Of those telling the survey they’ve experienced any of the above symptoms at some point, 66% say they’re experiencing them currently. And that answer is most prevalent among people who are new to the business (73%) and at mid-career (73%).

Toughing it out

Survey results from this year and last show P&C industry professionals didn’t take much time off work to deal with mental health concerns.

We asked how many hours during the regular work week they consulted resources or medical professionals about their own or someone else’s mental health concerns.

Seventy-three percent in 2025 answered ‘zero.’ Last year, 74% said zero.

What about taking leave from work to address a mental health concern?

Fifty-four percent of respondents say they took zero days off, paid or unpaid, to address a mental health issue in 2025 (either their own or someone else’s). And 33% report taking between one and three days off during the past year to deal with a mental health issue.

Last year, 58% said they took no time off. A further 30% reported being absent from work for between one and three days during the year. 

In recognition of World Mental Health Day on Friday, Oct. 10, Canadian Underwriter reminds those experiencing acute symptoms to call 988.

This article is excerpted from one that appeared in the October-November, 2025 print edition of Canadian Underwriter.

Phil Porado

Phil, an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience in financial topics, has been managing editor of Canadian Underwriter for more than three years.