You found our list of useful employee mental health statistics.
Employee mental health statistics are pieces of information and data on the psychological well-being of employees in a workplace. These facts and figures can include information on prevalence, impact on job performance, and effectiveness of interventions. These statistics can inform policies and practices to improve mental health and overall well-being in the workplace.
Accessible data on the prevalence of mental health conditions among employees can help employers understand the scale of the need for support. Similarly, data on the impact of mental health issues on job performance and productivity can help employers grasp the financial and operational costs of mental health issues in the workplace.
This information can help organizations design better employee engagement practices as well as reduce employee turnover and better manage attrition.
We will continue to keep these mental health statistics updated as useful resources for you and your audience.
Employee mental health statistics [Free to Cite]
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1. 77% of workers struggle with workplace-related stress and symptoms
The American Psychological Association conducted a Work in America Survey. This study revealed that the level of workplace stress remains concerning, with 77% of workers reporting experiencing work-related stress in the month before the survey. Further, 57% indicated experiencing negative impacts because of work-related stress, sometimes associated with workplace burnout.
Respondents reported experiencing the following symptoms:
- Emotional exhaustion: 31%
- A lack of motivation to perform their best: 26%
- A desire to keep to themselves: 25%
- Thoughts of quitting: 23%
- Decreased productivity: 20%
- Increased irritability or anger with coworkers and customers: 19%
- Feelings of ineffectiveness: 18%
These results emphasize the importance of proactive measures to support employee mental health and productivity.
2. Companies can do more to support mental health
According to SHRM Research, employees are interested in more mental health support options. Nearly 60% of US workers believe their organizations offer inadequate mental health resources. Workers in less supportive workplaces are less likely to rate their mental health as good or excellent at 46%, in contrast to those in organizations fostering strong mental health support at 74%.
Polled employees would like the following support from their companies:
- Mental health days: 58%
- Paid or unpaid time off: 48%
- Flexible scheduling: 44%
- Mental health coverage or subsidized virtual mental health services: 35%
- Mindfulness or yoga classes: 26%
- EAPs: 23%
- Mental health apps: 21%
- Support groups: 16%
- Training for managers and employees: 16%
Mental health support would significantly bolster employees’ well-being, productivity, and overall resilience.
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3. Women may be at a higher risk
Studies have shown that women have a higher chance of experiencing symptoms of mental illness and receiving a mental health condition diagnosis than men. Working women are 8.9% more likely to experience a common mental health issue than full-time working men. A National Alliance on Mental Illness workplace survey reports that women are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder than men.
The study of over 70,000 women found that 25% had a mental illness in 2019. This disparity may be due to various factors, including societal expectations and stereotypes, workplace discrimination and harassment, and the added stress and responsibilities of balancing work and caregiving. Therefore, companies must address and combat these underlying issues when considering workplace mental health.
4. Workplace suicide increased by 11%
In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a significant increase in workplace suicides in the United States. Incidents reached a record high of 304 cases, an 11% rise from the previous year. These workplace suicides include incidents occurring while individuals are on duty, covering both public and private sector workplaces.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed those over the age of 24 in a study of 569,099 deaths among working-age adults. The results showed that many factors can contribute to suicide among workers, including stress, job insecurity, and financial difficulties.
Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety can also increase the risk of suicide. However, suicide is preventable, and employers can help by creating supportive work environments, offering access to mental health resources, and promoting a healthy work-life balance. Individuals can take steps to protect their mental well-being by building a support network and practicing self-care.
5. Stress, depression, and anxiety take a $1 trillion toll on the economy
According to the World Health Organization, the combined effects of anxiety and depression cost the world economy one trillion dollars per year, and an average of 12 days lost per worker. The organization suggests decreased productivity as a main cause of these losses.
Additionally, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that nearly two-thirds of US workers report that work is a significant source of stress and that stress harms their overall well-being.
Consequently, workplace factors such as overwhelming and unsustainable work contribute to an increased number of employees leaving their jobs for mental health reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this trend, with many employees reporting increased stress and negative impacts on their mental health.
6. 94% of American workers experience stress in their workplace
The 2019 Wrike survey of 1,600 US and UK workers included sources and consequences of job-related stress. The survey reveals that employees are increasingly unwilling to tolerate stress. Many work populations seek alternatives because they believe stress threatens their health and personal lives.
A whopping 94% of the individuals surveyed experienced stress on the job. Nearly a third of respondents report very high or extremely high stress levels. More than 50% of the respondents say work-related stress hurts their personal lives at least once a week and, for some, daily. More than half of the respondents have trouble sleeping because of stress.
The report reveals that more than a quarter of workers expect to burn out if nothing is done to reduce stress levels. Nearly 50% of working adults report that stress at work has made them “check out” or stop caring altogether. According to Gallup estimates, absenteeism results in about $450 billion to $550 billion loss in productivity annually.
7. Mental health support is becoming a requirement for employees, not a perk
According to a 2022 report by the American Psychological Association, employees highly value mental health support in the workplace. The report, which examined over 2,000 working adults, found that 81% of US workers are looking for jobs with companies that care about their mental health. According to the results, the participants trace mental health problems back to the workplace, especially in a toxic environment.
Up to 71% of workers think their company cares more about their mental and emotional well-being than in the past. Many individuals emphasize and appreciate the shift. Furthermore, 81% of the respondents state that they prioritize finding a job at an organization promoting mental health. About 81% of participants said their employer’s commitment to mental health is important for future employment decisions.
8. 39% of American workers think their workload affects their mental health
When the workload is excessive or unmanageable, it can be overwhelming and cause burnout. The direct result is physical and mental health problems. Statista highlights workload as the major cause of mental health issues and stress. Over a third of the American workforce reveals that their workload gets them on edge. However, 31% report people as the source of their issues, while 19% fault juggling personal life and work as the cause of their stress.
9. 18% of employees report working in a toxic environment
According to the American Physiological Association, one in five workers claim that they are working in a toxic environment. Moreover, the results show that one-third of respondents experienced workplace violence, verbal abuse, or harassment at least 12 months before the survey.
Adults under the age of 44 are also more likely to report frequent fear when compared to those aged 44 and up. Similarly, 29% of Black and 31% of Latino adults reported feeling afraid at work.
Here are the demographics for respondents who felt afraid at their jobs:
- 38% of workers between the ages of 18 and 25
- 32% of those between the ages of 26 and 43
- 17% of those between the ages of 44 and 57
- 10% between the ages of 58 and 64
- 6% among those 65 and older
As an emerging factor, the survey points to companies that monitor their workers’ every move. Respondents with workplace surveillance were twice as likely to report an adverse effect on their mental health.
Flexible work hours were the preferred form of support among 41% of employees. About 34% wanted a culture that valued vacation time. About 33% of respondents were in favor of the remote work option, and 31% opted for a four-day workweek.
10. 25% increase in workplace mental health-related costs since 2019
Since the beginning of 2019, there has been a 25% increase in the annual cost of mental illness to businesses in the UK. This Deloitte study sampled a total of 3,599 individuals.
Mental health costs UK employers about £56 billion annually. Also, presenteeism costs £28 billion, staff turnover costs $22 billion, and absenteeism costs almost £6 billion yearly.
Again, it is common knowledge that poor mental health can have a significant financial impact on employers, including lost productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher healthcare costs. So, employers can help reduce these costs by giving their employees help and resources for mental health.
Employers should remember that mental health costs are not just financial but also impact their reputation and human capital. Mental health is a major concern for both employees and society.
11. 73% of remote workers believe remote work improves their well-being
Buffer, a company that provides remote working solutions, had 3,500 respondents in their 2022 Statista Research Department Report. The study suggests that 73% of at-home workers experience improved well-being and the ability to balance work with other activities. They credit remote work for the improvement.
Additionally, 60% of respondents report a surge in their professional development. It is important to note that while the study had a commendable sample size, the respondents may not represent the entire remote working population.
12. Caregivers may bear a heavier burden
Recent studies published in Frontiers show caregivers may be at a higher risk of mental health problems. Before the pandemic, individuals in this workforce had a record of a lack of institutional support. Caregivers suffered from mental health problems, including burnout and stress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey discovered a growing number of caregivers showed traits of anxiety and depression.
Survey data from Parade and Cleveland Clinic shed light on emotional burdens, which is a problem particular to family caregivers. According to the survey from May 2022, 36% of caregivers report symptoms of depression or anxiety, which is 114% higher than the result of non-caregivers. Additionally, 60% of the caregiving workforce report feeling anxious at least once per week.
13. The rate of workplace mental health conditions has quadrupled
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show an increase in the rates of anxiety and depression among US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC reports that in June 2020, 40% of US adults struggled with mental health or substance abuse. In addition, 25% had symptoms of anxiety or depression. This number is a significant increase from 2019, when the CDC reported that one in five US adults experienced mental illness.
14. More employees are leaving their jobs for mental health reasons
A 2020 National Alliance on Mental Illness survey found that 61% of employees felt their mental health was worsening at the start of the pandemic. A total of 25% of participants said they were considering leaving their job due to the impact on their mental health.
A 2019 survey by the Mental Health Foundation reported that three out of five workers in the UK have poor mental health due to work-related stress. Work-related stress, anxiety, and depression accounted for 12.8 million lost workdays from 2018 to 2019, or an average of 21.2 days per case, according to official data.
15. 80% of workers blame leadership changes
A Korn Ferry survey questioning the effects of workplace stress at all levels of an organization opens up some facts about leadership. About 76% of respondents claim that work-related stress has negatively affected their relationships. Also, 66% say that leadership issues are the leading cause of sleepless nights, and 16% report leaving a job because of stress.
Similarly, pressure from superiors was the most common cause of anxiety. According to the results, 35% of employees report that their boss is the main cause of stress on the job, and 80% report that a change in leadership affects their stress levels.
Over the past three decades, stress levels in the workplace have increased by nearly 20%. The fear of being replaced by robots in the workplace and the accompanying pressure to be better are two major contributors to the rising rates of stress.
16. 72% report that mental health issues harm their quality of life
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America shows that 72% of American workers report stress and anxiety in the workplace. The same report shows that stress negatively impacts their quality of life. Consequently, 44% opt for more sleep to deal with work-related stress. An additional 31% of respondents report an increase in their caffeine intake. While 27% of those surveyed rely on cigarettes, 20% opt for alcohol, and 25% increase their exercise frequency.
Seven out of ten of these adults say work-related stress harms their relationships outside work, most notably with their spouses. In fact, 79% of men and 63% of women say it impacts their close relationships.
When dealing with work-related stress, 46% of women are more likely than 27% of men to turn to comfort foods and social support. Men are much more likely than women to have frequent sexual activity to deal with stress at work. Men are also 10% more likely to use illegal drugs.
17. Employees may fear the repercussions of talking about mental health issues
Employees often worry about getting in trouble at work, losing their job, or having their careers move backward because of their actions. This fear can stem from various sources, such as a lack of trust in management, unclear communication or expectations, or a history of negative repercussions.
However, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that 31% of the work population fear being labeled weak. More than a third are tight-lipped on mental health because of misinterpretation, 22% think it may affect their promotion opportunities, and 20% worry about scorn.
Conclusion
Workplace mental health awareness and statistics are vital to creating a healthy and supportive work environment. Understanding the prevalence and causes of mental health issues in the workplace can help employers identify and address potential sources of stress and support employees who may be struggling.
Furthermore, raising awareness about mental health and providing resources for employees can help to reduce the stigma and encourage individuals to seek help if they need it. Employers can also evaluate how well their efforts are working and make changes if they need to by keeping an eye on mental health statistics on a regular basis.
Overall, raising awareness about mental health and keeping track of mental health statistics at work is important for employees’ health and can lead to a more positive and productive work environment.
Next, check out this list of team building statistics, these job satisfaction statistics, these employee engagement statistics, and these staff turnover statistics.
