International SOS is calling on organizations to take proactive steps in addressing the mental health challenges of employees, highlighting that approximately 40% of the global workforce reported stress levels that significantly impacted their ability to work in the last year.
These ‘soaring rates of workplace stress and anxiety’ are impacting organizational resilience and require proactive steps to address the mental health challenges of employees.
International SOS has identified the three most frequent mental health-related requests it has received from global workforces across various sectors over the past three years. These are:
- Anxiety disorder: intense and excessive fear and distress, often accompanied by physical tensions.
- Depressive disorder: mental health condition characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or loss of interest. It can significantly impact an employee’s emotions, behaviour, and physical health.
- Panic disorder: a condition when an employee has repeated, unexpected panic attacks and worries constantly about when the next one might happen.
Dr Rodrigo Rodriguez-Fernandez, Global Health Advisor, Wellness and Mental Health, at International SOS, comments, “For organizations, recognising the inextricable link between good mental health, employee wellbeing, and organizational effectiveness is paramount. Alarmingly, workplace stress and anxiety rates remain high, with around 15% of the global working-age population suffering from mental illness.The detrimental effects of stress are multifaceted and can include circulatory and gastrointestinal issues, as well as significant physical and emotional repercussions. Protecting and promoting mental health in the workplace is about strengthening capacities, increasing awareness, and offering early intervention opportunities for those in need.”
International SOS offers five points for organizations to implement proactive strategies to address stress and anxiety in the workforce:
Support
Foster a supportive culture and work environment: create a workplace culture that values open communication and support. Encourage employees to speak up about their stress levels and provide a safe space for them to share their concerns without fear of judgment or repercussions.
Balance
Promote work-life balance and implement flexible work arrangements: consider changing time–offpolicies to accommodate employees’ mental health needs.Encourage employees to take breaks and set boundaries between work and personal life.
Assess
Conduct regular stress assessments: regularly assess the stress levels within the organization through surveys, feedback sessions, and health screenings. Use the data collected to identify stressors and implement targeted interventions to address them.
Assist
Offer Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs): ensure easily accessible resources for mental health support, including workshops for stress management techniques, counselling services and mental health hotlines.
Train
Equip managers with mental health first-aid training: upskill managers to identify signs of distress and offer initial support to employees who may be struggling.
