Mental Health Employee Benefits Trends

This is the year of wellness concerns in the workplace.

Mental health has been a hot topic recently, thanks to COVID-19. Over the past two years, many people have experienced issues such as burnout, depression, anxiety and substance addiction.

Some of the numbers:

  • 40% of U.S. adults said they have struggled with mental health or substance abuse during the pandemic (Jellyvision)

  • Over 30% of employers have added new mental health benefits within the past year, according to (McKinsey)

  • Despite increased efforts, nearly 25% of employees still don’t feel supported when it comes to their mental health (McKinsey)

With that in mind, employers will need to evaluate their mental health strategies and consider how they can best help maximize their employees’ overall well-being. To help with this, employers can consider the following trends that may influence workers’ mental health in 2022.

Employers should expect to see more mental health programs cropping up in the new year.

  • The vast majority of employers (90%) said they would be increasing their investment in mental health programs, according to a Wellable Labs survey.

  •  Of those employers, 72% expect most or all of those mental health solutions to be digital. These may include mindfulness or meditation programs, stress management classes or other online offerings.

  •  According to a Lyra survey, nearly 70% of employees said work-from-home days and flexible scheduling options are “very important.” That’s because having work flexibility allows employees to better manage their personal responsibilities, creating a better work-life balance.

  • A Mercer survey found that 73% of employers plan to implement a hybrid work environment if they haven’t yet done so. This illustrates how important having remote options will be to stay competitive, improve mental wellbeing and attract employees in 2022.

Remote access to mental health professionals can be critical for employees who may otherwise not have time to seek help.

  • Telemedicine is shown to be so popular that 80% of employers intend to invest more in the solution in 2022 (Wellable Labs)

Mental health needs to be nurtured, just like physical health—it’s impossible to improve something overnight. Employers are understanding this and taking steps to address issues before they worsen. For instance, over 50% of employees reported experiencing burnout in 2021, according to Indeed.

Employers are trying to curb this trend by checking in with employees more frequently about how they’re feeling. Instead of annual or quarterly one-on-one meetings, managers are being encouraged to touch base more regularly. Having this candid communication can help address mental health issues before they get worse.

In 2022, employers should be ready to help their workers with their mental health. This means educating employees and managers about these issues and providing solutions for individuals to seek professional help.

Source: TechServe Alliance