The critical nature and status of mental health in the U.S. has become a top concern, and it’s no different in the workplace. Companies can support employees with mental health benefits, including education and training about how employees can access these benefits. HR professionals must be intentional in this training and measure results in employee knowledge and engagement in this area, as the following survey results show a bleak picture.
Employees Interested, But Unaware, of Mental Health Benefits
According to a recent survey of full-time employees by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 75% say they want better mental health education including training on burnout, crisis response, and how to access employer benefits.
Twenty-six percent of respondents said they didn’t know whether their employers offered benefits like employee assistance programs, flexible work arrangements, or sick days to address mental health issues.
Yet 80% percent said that these benefits are, or would be, important to them in creating a positive workplace culture.
Mental Health Stills Carries Stigma
While more than 80% of those responding to NAMI’s survey indicate that they feel comfortable discussing mental health with a close friend at work, only 57% felt they could discuss concerns with their managers. The number drops even lower to 39% with those who feel comfortable sharing with HR.
Top reasons that employees prefer not to discuss their mental health status include: stigma or judgment, lack of discussion from colleagues, not wanting to appear weak, fear of losing out on opportunities or retaliation, and their job’s impact on their mental health.
Employees Crave Information and Aid
Yet, even in a climate that is often marked by insecurity and concerns, employees indicate that they value information and aid from their employers. In fact, among those who had received training or resources, more than half (57%) said it helped them feel more comfortable talking about mental health with coworkers—65% said it made them feel more comfortable talking with managers.
Employees aren’t the only ones who benefit from a more open environment to share and discuss mental health concerns. Companies do, too.
Employers Benefit
According to NAMI’s Chief Innovation Officer Darcy Gruttadaro, companies that create an open environment and culture in support of mental health, “will see the individual and organizational impact of increased productivity, connection, and satisfaction amongst employees who are connected to resources.”
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a contributing editor for HR Daily Advisor.
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