One-third (33%) of employees believe their employer is overlooking serious mental health problems among their workforce, according to research by AI-guided mental health provider Wysa.
Its Colleagues in crisis report, which surveyed 6,413 respondents across the US, UK and Canada, as well as 2,182 from the UK, also found that 41% of respondents feel mental health is simply treated as a tick-box exercise in their workplace. To feel supported, 49% of respondents would prefer an offer of professional help and 25% are interested in digital mental self-help tools.
The report also found that 25% of UK respondents had been bothered by thoughts that they would be better off dead, or of hurting themselves.
It also found that respondents had experienced feelings associated with severe depression while at work. This includes emotional distance from others (35%), a sense of isolation or withdrawal (32%), and a sense of distraction or lack of humour (32%). Other feelings included dwelling on the past (28%) and persistent feeling of hopelessness (25%).
In addition, 44% of 18 to 24-year-olds experienced emotional distance from others at work and 39% felt isolated or withdrawn.
Over the past year, 15% of UK respondents experienced a colleague attempting, or losing their life by suicide, and 26% felt concerned a colleague may harm themselves or take their own life.
Ramakant Vempati, president and co-founder at Wysa, said: “These statistics serve as a wake-up call for employers to recognise and address the mental health crisis within the workplace. Equipping the workplace with the tools and training to identify crises and provide critical interventions can prevent tragedies from occurring.
“As the mental health crisis escalates to dangerous levels, the impacts on the workplace are profound. These findings underscore the critical need for comprehensive mental health assistance to create a culture of support and understanding. That starts with employers removing stigma and increasing access to mental health treatments.”
