Mental health at work has become a matter of concern for many organizations, as work-related stress and anxiety can significantly affect employee productivity. Mental health issue is a major contributor to employee burnout, leaving employers grappling to hold onto their talents. According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety, predominantly from reduced productivity, cost the global economy $1 trillion each year. The study conducted by the WHO has also revealed that 15% of working-age adults are living with a mental disorder. This shows the prevalence of mental health conditions across workplaces, affecting people’s confidence, capacity to work, identity at work, and absences.
Data from the Mental Health at Work Report 2024 from the US Department of Health and Human Services revealed that 76% of US workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition, and 84% of respondents considered their workplace conditions as a contributor to at least one of their mental health challenges. It further revealed that 81% of US workers were interested in finding a new workplace that supports mental health.
Excessive workloads, unsafe or poor physical working conditions, negative organizational culture, harassment or bullying, unclear job roles, under-use of skills, and others are some of the factors that remain contributory causes of mental health issues among workers. Now, to cope with the depression and anxiety driven by these contributors, organizations are offering effective mental health benefit plans for employees to have a healthy and productive work environment.
We at The CEO Views recognize the necessity of mental health benefits in the workplace and, through this article, have tried to identify the contribution of such benefits in making the workplace a better place to work.
What is Workplace Mental Health?
Workplace mental health is the psychological, emotional, and social well-being of employees within their work environment. This area encompasses a variety of factors, from stress management to improving the overall work culture. Employers must promote mental health at work to ensure the overall well-being of employees and improve their work productivity, morale, and job performance.
Work-life balancing, stress management, improved work culture, and other initiatives are included in the mental health benefit plans offered by firms. As a major contributor to employee well-being in the workplace, mental health benefits are designed to help employers navigate their employees through workplace stress and anxiety.
Mental Health Benefits at Work
The American Psychological Association has encouraged organizations to address mental health issues in the workplace. They recommended strategies like training managers to promote health and well-being, reviewing health insurance policies with a focus on employee mental health, developing policies and programs that can contribute to employee mental health, and strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion policies to create a supportive organizational culture.
Mental health benefits can be a contributory factor in driving a positive organizational culture. A comprehensive approach to workplace mental health often involves three pillars: prevention, intervention, and accommodation. Prevention involves balancing job stressors and resources to protect employees’ mental health by addressing environmental and job factors. Intervention, on the contrary, aims to empower employees by increasing their access to resources, such as social support at work, training and development opportunities, and others.
Workplace programs and policies delivering support to employees facing mental health issues at work fall under the accommodation factor. These programs include a stay-at-work and a return-to-work plan that serves as a contributor to their work-life balance.
Mental health benefits may include expanded mental health coverage, a supportive work environment, and access to resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Employers can effectively reduce absenteeism, increase employee productivity, and create a more resilient and committed workforce through these benefits.
Mental Health Benefits in US Workplaces: The Scenario
The changing landscape of US workplaces has accentuated the needs and expectations of workers across the country concerning mental health support. The Work in America Survey of 2023 by the American Psychological Association has revealed that 92% of workers in the US agreed that it is very important (57%) for them to work with an organization that values and supports their emotional and psychological well-being. 95% of workers said it is extremely important (66%) to them to feel respected at work.
Now, with mental health benefit policies and programs being adopted by many workplaces in the US, they have remained extremely contributory in gaining workers’ satisfaction and engagement. The survey uncovered that 77% of workers were very (36%) or somewhat (41%) satisfied with the mental health and well-being support that they are receiving from their employers. More than half (59%) of the workers somewhat (39%) agreed that their employer informs them about available mental health resources.
Although some data revealed positive impacts of mental health benefits on employees, some uncovered areas still need improvement. 77% of workers reported experiencing work-related stress, and 57%reported experiencing negative impacts due to work-related stress associated with workplace burnout.
A 2022 Statista survey revealed that around 39% of employees in the US confirmed that their employers provided them with mental health coverage. In 2024, 23% of employees in the country admitted that they are experiencing improved mental health due to mental health benefits playing the role of a contributor in driving workplace health and productivity.
With workplace mental health becoming a crucial part of employee management in US workplaces, employers are relying on mental health benefit plans and programs to avoid absenteeism, burnout, and foster a healthy work culture.
