Headspace, the provider of the world’s most accessible, comprehensive mental health system, today announced the launch of its sixth annual Workforce State of Mind report, uncovering new data on the perceptions of CEOs, HR leaders, and workers on mental health.
Since 2020, the number of employees who reported their company leaders talk openly about their personal mental health has more than doubled – up from only 35% in 2020 to 88% in 2024. While it’s promising that workplace dialogue about mental health has become more commonplace, Headspace’s new research points to work stress as a significant contributor to declining employee health and well-being in and outside of work.
Work stress is driving divorce, parenting pitfalls and poor physical health.
- 78% of U.K. employees say that work stress has negatively impacted their physical health, and 78% say it caused them to gain weight.
- 76% of employees report work stress has caused a personal relationship to end, with Gen X employees being more likely (79%) than any other generation to report that work stress has led to a breakup or divorce.
- Nearly 40% of employees report that work has negatively impacted their ability to care for their family or children’s mental health.
- 40% of employees report that work stress has contributed to serious mental health challenges, such as substance use or suicidal ideation.
Amid record high mental health absences, U.K. managers and HR leaders assume crucial roles, with business success hinging on a deeper commitment to mental health and resiliency training as well as cultural transformation.
- Nearly half (49%) of HR leaders report an increase in mental health leaves of absence, yet one in five do not currently provide support in order to help employees return to and stay in work.
- Nine in 10 CEOs say they’re concerned about employee mental strength to respond to changes.
- While 44% of employees report turning to their managers for mental health support, only a quarter of HR leaders say managers are required to take mental health-specific training.
- 43% of employees say their managers have negatively impacted their mental health by lacking an understanding of their life outside and work hour boundaries, or by treating team members unequally.
A sense of community keeps employees engaged and tackles the growing loneliness crisis.
- Despite a shift to remote work for many, employees continue to see the workplace as a source of community and connection: 53% of employees say that the workplace helped them find a community of people with similar backgrounds or lived experiences.
- 43% of employees say that their workplace helped them build connections and feel less lonely.
- With 99% of employees reporting that global trends impact their mental health at work, an investment in forming and supporting employee resource groups (ERGs) – which offer a safe space for employees to connect, and an opportunity to foster dialogue where people can share their lived experiences in the workplace – is more important than ever.
“Despite the overwhelmingly negative impact employees experience when work stress seeps into their personal lives, our data shows there’s a clear upside for businesses that prioritise cultural transformation in the workplace and invest in evidence-based, high-quality mental health support for their workers. 97% of the employees we surveyed reported feeling better after using company-provided mental health benefits,” said Karan Singh, COO and Chief People Officer, Headspace. “With access to compassionate, outcomes-driven care, employers can see and measure the difference in employee wellbeing.”
The report compiles data from over 1,000 CEOs, employees and HR leaders in the U.K based on a survey fielded between January and February 2024. For more information on Headspace’s 2024 Workforce State of Mind report, visit get.headspace.com/2024-wsom.