Male employees account for 55% of all calls to employee assistance programme (EAP) counselling services, according to data from Personal Group and Health Assured.
The data, released on 14 May 2019, revealed that the number of calls from men seeking support through an EAP increased by 84% between May 2018 and April 2019; calls from female employees increased by 6% over the same period. Overall, there was a 110% increase in EAP helpline calls regarding mental health from March 2018 to April 2019.
More than two-fifths (43%) of all calls from men over this period related to poor mental health concerns, while legal worries accounted for 15%, followed by work issues (10%).
Workplace stress was the main driver of work-related calls from men, accounting for 62%, followed by bullying or harassment at 11%.
Over the 12 month period, male employees of Personal Group’s clients made 21% more general helpline calls than female employees, and the volume of calls specifically about mental health received from male employees was 30% higher than the number of calls received from women.
Deborah Frost (pictured), chief executive of Personal Group, said: “Technology is a key area where HR and business leaders can make a positive impact on the UK’s mental health, by increasing employee access to confidential support, both while employees are at work and when they are at home.
“Employers must make more effort to reach employees when and where they are most in need of help, often outside of the workplace, when they are alone, whether this be via the traditional phone support or via a mobile app.
“[EAPs], implementing mental health first aiders, providing access to counselling and a well-rounded benefits package provide genuinely life-changing solutions that support employees and their loved ones when they need it most.
“Encouragingly, [the] data shows us that employee platforms and apps that make mental health support more easily accessible can compound the success of the traditional EAP and counselling outcomes, having a more positive impact on individuals’ wellbeing and engagement at work.”