The increasing awareness of the importance of workplace mental health is a significant step in the right direction. However, research shows that more needs to be done to support employees like with mental health insurance or employee assistance programs.
Industry sources report a dramatic rise in mental health-related leaves of absence. According to the employee assistance program (EAP) provider ComPsych, leaves of absence due to mental health increased 300% from 2017 to 2023. In the most recent data from the first quarter of 2024, they jumped another 22%. The industry news site BenefitsPRO reports that in the first quarter of 2024, employees took more leave for mental health than they did for cancer, heart disease, heart attacks, accidents and COVID-19 combined. The industry news source Employee Benefit News (EBN) notes that mental health now accounts for 10% of all leaves of absence.
The complexity of mental health
Addressing workplace mental health is complex. No two circumstances are exactly alike, and many employees face multiple stressors.
EBN lists some causes behind today’s top mental health challenges, including:
- Negative work culture (excessive workloads, micromanagement, lack of autonomy, poor work-life balance, toxic environment, etc.)
- Economic uncertainty
- Financial worries
- Job loss
- Caregiving responsibilities
- Chronic physical health conditions
- Discrimination
- Polarized politics
- Global conflicts
It’s not just individual challenges, either. Systemic inequities cause women to face higher risks to their mental well-being. Women often handle more caregiving responsibilities. Many provide 20 hours or more of unpaid caregiving each week. Forbes notes that women also handle more unpaid and overlooked housekeeping duties at work, including taking notes, ordering food and planning celebrations.
These additional duties at work and home increase the risk for stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and other mental health conditions. The statistics bear this out, with BenefitsPRO reporting that women more often take leaves of absence due to mental health. Women accounted for 69% of mental health-related leaves in 2023, and 71% in the first quarter of 2024.
Mutually beneficial mental health support
Improving employees’ mental health doesn’t just benefit individuals. EBN notes that organizations with stronger employee mental health can increase engagement, performance and retention.
Conversely, ignoring mental health can be costly. Avoidable leaves of absence can negatively affect employers in many ways, including:
- Workflow disruptions and decreased productivity
- Higher risk of stress and burnout
- Increased health care costs
- Additional payroll and HR administration
- Potential legal issues during and after employee leave
You can take steps to support employees and reduce your risk of mental health-related leaves of absence.
Realistic workloads and employee recognition programs can support long-term engagement and productivity. Encourage regular conversations on mental health and self-care. Awareness and acceptance can help employees catch problematic signs before they become bigger issues. Earlier interventions reduce the risk of severe mental health challenges and lead to better health outcomes.
EBN reports that managers have a greater impact on employees’ mental health than doctors and therapists. Train your managers to identify mental health risks and support employees in need.
Managers should learn steps to create a psychologically safe work environment. This type of work environment encourages employees to be authentic, communicate openly and take calculated risks.
Supervisors should also know when and how to connect employees to mental health insurance benefits. Offerings may include:
- Affordable access to counseling, therapy and medications
- EAP resources
- Caregiving benefits, including child care and elder care resources
- Wellness initiatives
- Mental health apps and online courses
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
For more information on mental health challenges and solutions, talk to a Conrade benefits adviser. They can help you examine mental health benefits, training opportunities and leave management programs.