CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LifeWorks, a leading provider of digital and in-person total wellbeing solutions, today released its monthly Mental Health IndexTM revealing 63 percent of Americans believe people with mental health conditions are treated differently. Additionally, the 51 percent of Americans who felt their mental health was supported by their employer during the pandemic have a mental health score more than six points higher than the national average.
The Index found that American workers’ optimism and general psychological health declined from May to June.
- The Mental Health Index™ score for June 2022 is 69.9 out of one hundred, improving modestly from May’s score of 69.4.
- Sixty-five percent of Americans have a high or moderate mental health risk.
- Mental health scores improved in all regions across the United States except the West.
Americans hesitant about how mental health conditions may be treated by their employers, colleagues, and friends and family
- Ninety-three percent of Americans are hesitant about how mental health conditions are treated, with 63 percent believing they are treated differently and 30 percent unsure.
- Thirty-two percent of Americans are uncomfortable talking about mental health with their manager.
- Thirty-two percent of Americans are uncomfortable talking about mental health with their colleagues, and 14 percent are uncomfortable speaking with friends and family.
Americans who indicate their employers supported their mental health are doing better in terms of their own mental health
- Those who felt supported cited work flexibility (46 percent), employer promoted mental health services and resources (31 percent), and dedicated days off for mental health care (21 percent) as the main reasons that they felt supported.
Comments from president and chief executive officer, Stephen Liptrap
“Access to mental health support provides a tangible safety net for working Americans. It’s clear that those who feel supported by employers are in a better place mentally than those without such support. At the same time, however, the stigma of reaching out for help is also tangible, with too many people reluctant to discuss mental health with either colleagues or managers. Employers need to address this reticence to engage because this environment of uncertainty has far-reaching consequences.”
Comments from global leader and senior vice president, research and total wellbeing, Paula Allen
“Even when there is access to vital mental health services, employees need to feel comfortable using the available tools regularly. A host of issues have induced or increased anxiety – the pandemic, the economy, public discourse – and mental health has suffered. If people don’t feel comfortable seeking help or ignore the benefit of continuous support, it could lead to poorer mental health creating relationship issues at home, productivity issues at work, and physical health issues in the long term. Establishing a culture where people are more open to asking for help is vital to supporting employees’ mental wellbeing.”
The full United States LifeWorks Mental Health Index™ report can be found here. This month, the report includes additional insights on the impacts of increased aggression and conflict, housing security, managers and employees’ perspective on working from home, and safety at the workplace. To receive LifeWorks Mental Health Index™ every month, subscribe here.
About the Mental Health Index™
The monthly survey by LifeWorks was conducted through an online survey from June 3 to June 13, 2022, with 5,000 respondents in the United States. All respondents reside in the United States and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The Mental Health Index™ is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018, 2019.
Beginning in May 2022, corresponding to the third year of the Mental Health Index™ by LifeWorks, scores are represented as absolute. To create the Mental Health Index™, a response scoring system is applied to turn individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels.
About LifeWorks
LifeWorks is a world leader in providing digital and in-person solutions that support the total wellbeing of individuals – mental, physical, financial, and social. As the trusted leader in mental health and wellbeing, LifeWorks delivers a personalized continuum of care that helps our clients improve the lives of their people and by doing so, improve their business. Guided by our purpose to improve lives and improve business, we help our clients improve the wellbeing of their people, we help them improve workforce engagement and productivity, thereby improving the performance of our clients’ organizations. LifeWorks is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LWRK). The Company has approximately 7,000 employees, 25,000 clients, and serves 36 million individuals and their families around in more than 160 countries.
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