As the world continues to face wide-ranging challenges, the mental health of employees is a pressing concern. This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, ‘It’s time to prioritize mental health in the workplace’, is a crucial reminder for organizations to take action to safeguard their workforce’s mental health and wellbeing. Employee resilience and organizational resilience are intrinsically linked and supporting the former strengthens the latter.
In alignment with the theme, International SOS encourages organizations worldwide to recognise the critical importance of mental wellbeing and resilience within their workforce:
The increasing frequency and intensity of global crises, coupled with elevated job demands, are contributing to heightened levels of stress and anxiety, further exacerbating mental health concerns among the global workforce. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 15% of working-age adults are experiencing a mental disorder at any single point in time.
Additionally, International SOS assistance data reveals that over the past two years, the top five mental health-related assistance requests that the organization received are related to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Acute stress.
Burnout has also become a prominent issue among employees, with one in four employees worldwide reporting symptoms of burnout. The International SOS Risk Outlook 2024 report highlights employee burnout as a major threat impacting organizations.
Moreover, the economic impact of mental health issues cannot be ignored. The WHO estimates that globally, approximately 12 billion working days are lost annually to depression and anxiety, resulting in US$ 1 trillion in lost productivity per year. These figures highlight the importance for employers to create a workplace that promotes mental wellbeing and underscores the immense cost of neglecting employee mental health and wellbeing at work. Organizations play a pivotal role in shaping the mental health landscape by implementing policies and practices that promote wellbeing.
To support the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce, International SOS has provided the following advice for organizations:
- Cultivate a supportive work culture with strong leadership commitment: Create a workplace culture and environment that prioritises and promotes open communication on mental health. Ensure mental wellbeing initiatives are seamlessly integrated into relevant policies and practices to provide robust support.
- Provide accessible resources: Ensure employees have a toolkit of mental health resources at their fingertips, from counselling to self-guidance materials.
- Promote work-life balance: Offer flexible work arrangements and remote work options to help employees manage their personal and professional lives effectively. Encourage regular breaks and empower employees to prioritise their wellbeing.
- Training and education: Implement comprehensive mental health awareness campaigns to reduce stigma. Roll out mental health training, enabling everyone to spot, understand and assist with mental health challenges.
- Monitor and assess: Seek feedback and continuously monitor the mental health of employees through surveys and assessments, and adapt programmes as needed.
- Invest in emotional wellbeing: provide access to mindfulness sessions and stress management training—partner with certified mental health professionals to offer confidential counselling and support services.
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs): Provide EAPs that offer confidential counselling and support services to employees. Promoting the availability and benefits of EAPs can encourage employees to seek help without fear of stigma, fostering a culture of openness and support.
