For some time now, safety regulators have been ramping up efforts to combat the effects of the mental health and wellbeing crisis. Have their initiatives succeeded?
Recent survey evidence suggests no. What does the latest data say about mental health challenges in the workplace?
Read on to find out.
Survey shows mental health challenges persist in the workplace
Well, according to a recent survey by benefits and human resources technology vendor, Businessolver, a staggering 55% of CEOs report having a mental health issue in the previous 12 months.
That figure represents a 31% increase for the year prior.
What about employees?
Fifty percent of employees have experienced a mental health issue in the past year, according to the ninth annual State of Workplace Empathy findings.
Mental health stigma remains, compounding mental health challenges in the workplace
Another concerning finding is the persistence of mental health stigma in the workplace.
Asked if their companies view someone with mental health issues as weak or a burden, CEOs, HR, and employees all agreed, with over four fifths of CEOs and nearly three quarters of HR saying yes.
Is workplace location a driver of mental health challenges?
What can be done to address the roiling mental health and wellbeing crisis? Getting on top of the drivers of mental health challenges is surely one place to start.
Are recent, societal changes in the way we work a major factor in elevated rates of mental health issues? The report argues no.
The same percentage of in-person and remote workers (47%) report experiencing mental health issues. Meanwhile, an additional 44% of hybrid workers report the same.
Workplace toxicity contributing to mental health incidents
Although where employees work might not be a major factor, the perceived toxicity of the workplace is.
Indeed, the report suggests a strong association between toxicity in the workplace and mental health issues.
For instance, employees who say that their workplace is toxic are 47% more likely to cite mental health issues compared to those who do not cite a toxic workplace.
Isolating CEOs, the figure jumps to 64%.
5 essentials for workplace mental health and wellbeing
What’s the antidote to workplace toxicity? That would be a workplace supportive of the mental health and wellbeing of all of its workers.
Fortunately, we have a great deal of literature detailing how to develop such a workplace.
The 2022 U.S. Surgeon General’s Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing is one such resource.
So, what do the Five Essentials comprise of? They consist of the following points:
1. Protection from Harm
Creating the conditions for physical and psychological safety is a critical foundation for ensuring mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. To this end, workplaces can:
- Prioritize workplace physical and psychological safety
- Enable adequate rest
- Normalize and support focusing on mental health
- Operationalize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) norms, policies, and programs
2. Connection and Community
Fostering positive social interaction and relationships in the workplace supports worker wellbeing. To this end, workplaces can:
- Create cultures of inclusion and belonging
- Cultivate trusted relationships
- Foster collaboration and teamwork
3. Work-Life Harmony
Professional and personal roles can create work and non-work conflicts. To this end, workplaces can:
- Provide more autonomy over how work is done
- Make schedules as flexible and predictable as possible
- Increase access to paid leave
- Respect boundaries between work and non-work time
4. Mattering at Work
People want to know that they matter to those around them and that their work matters. Knowing you matter has been shown to lower stress, while feeling like you do not can increase the risk for depression. To this end, workplaces can:
Provide a living wage
Engage workers in workplace decisions
Build a culture of gratitude and recognition
Connect individual work with organizational mission
5. Opportunities for Growth
When organizations create more opportunities for workers to accomplish goals based on their skills and growth, workers become more optimistic about their abilities and more enthusiastic about contributing to the organization. To this end, workplaces can:
- Offer quality training, education, and mentoring
- Foster clear, equitable pathways for career advancement
- Ensure relevant, reciprocal feedback
Given the persistence of mental health challenges in the workplace, it’s worthwhile to ask how to apply these Essentials at your organization. Beyond time and effort, you’ll need a plan of action.
For tips on how to develop that plan, check out our Guide to Understanding the Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace.
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