Over Half of US Workers Report Feeling Mentally Unwell

More than half (56%) of US workers, primarily Millennials and Gen Z, felt mentally unwell in the previous year. Additionally, 42% of said they needed to take time off from work to deal with their mental health, revealed new research from Unum.

Employee mental health remains low, confirmed the study from the employee benefits provider. Key findings also revealed that:

• 70% of employees suggest there’s room for improvement for their employers to reduce the stigma around mental health all year-round.
• Nearly one third (30%) say their employer does not do a good job of promoting mental health resources or offerings.
• 42% are more likely to seek mental wellbeing support only in a crisis, rather than seeking help proactively.
• 1 in 3 (35%) identify cost of services as the biggest deterrent when seeking mental health resources.
• One third (33%) are part of the “Sandwich Generation”; meaning they currently care for parents/elders and children/younger dependents. This often comes with more responsibility, greater financial burden, and, at times, devastating stress.

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

Experts say the combination of health concerns and work pressures during the pandemic caused widespread mental health problems that will reverberate far into the future. “The ongoing pandemic has further exacerbated the mental health crisis we were already in; but it also helped normalise the need for mental health support,” stated Swapnil Prabha, Vice President of Workforce Wellness Solutions for Unum Group. “Despite the longstanding stigma and other challenges in mental health, the power of technology can make it possible for more people to get access to the right help when they need it.”

According to the research, this type of data continues to drive investments in mental health care by employers for their employees. “HR teams are already strained, and mental health is a critical, but complex challenge,” added Prabha. “Unum brings nearly 175 years of expertise as a partner to employers to help take on this challenge together. The pandemic has accelerated virtual access. Care and support can be accessed at almost any time from nearly any location with no drive-time required.”

Unappreciated employees are twice as likely to suffer from poor mental health, revealed another new survey. Click here to read more.