A recent study delving into the evolving landscape of workplace mental health, stigma, and employee perspectives has uncovered valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic and other macro challenges on mental health at work. While the findings reveal that overall mental health isn’t on a clear upward trajectory in the U.S., they also shed light on new promising developments. Workers are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health in the workplace and are seeking more than traditional benefits and technological solutions. What they now emphasize is the creation of mentally healthier cultures.
Transformative Shifts in Workplace Mental Health
Over the past four years, the landscape of workplace mental health has undergone significant changes, driven by the global pandemic, a focus on racial justice, and other major societal challenges. Employers have made substantial strides by expanding benefits, introducing meditation apps, mindfulness programs, mental health days, and awareness campaigns. However, these initiatives, in isolation, are insufficient to address the complexity of mental health in the workplace.
In 2019, Mind Share Partners initiated the first Mental Health at Work Report in collaboration with Qualtrics, aiming to explore workers’ evolving perspectives on mental health, stigma, and their experiences at work. Each report consisted of nationally representative samples of 1,500 full-time U.S. employees, with significant representation from historically marginalized groups, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ employees, and more.
In our most recent report, conducted in 2023, we have uncovered fresh insights into the evolving landscape of workplace mental health, charting its course from the period before the pandemic, through the pandemic’s acute phase, and into the post-pandemic era.
The Shifting Terrain of Workplace Mental Health
In the inaugural 2019 report, we described mental health as a pivotal factor in workplace well-being, engagement, productivity, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. Despite the rising prevalence of mental health challenges, most employers had barely begun to provide effective mental health support.
In the 2021 report, we characterized workplace mental health as being at a pivotal juncture. The pandemic contributed to a surge in mental health issues, with work itself becoming a greater source of strain on mental well-being. Simultaneously, public awareness of mental health grew. Conversations around mental health became more prevalent, and employers began to invest more substantially in mental health support, including benefits, meditation apps, and mental health days.
The Changing Ethos of Work
In 2023, work’s very essence is undergoing a profound transformation. As the world emerges from the pandemic, workers are reevaluating their priorities, leading to broader trends such as the Great Resignation and “quiet quitting.” Simultaneously, employer investments continue to evolve. Some organizations are persistently innovating to enhance the workplace experience. Examples include increasing base pay, experimenting with four-day workweeks, and granting employees greater flexibility in terms of their work location and schedule. Conversely, other employers are retreating, striving to recreate a pre-pandemic normal.
Key Findings from the 2023 Mental Health at Work Report:
This year’s study reveals that mental health in the U.S. is not displaying consistent improvement, although there are encouraging developments. Workers are displaying heightened awareness of mental health within the workplace and are moving beyond conventional benefits and cutting-edge technologies. What they increasingly prioritize are mentally healthier organizational cultures.
