Mental Health Trends for 2023
The start of a new year can be challenging for employees. Post-holiday blues, work stress, and family issues are common sources of mental health issues. As a result, mental health support is more important now than ever. This is why many employers are providing additional mental health resources for employees.
Supporting employees’ mental health increases productivity, job satisfaction, and retention. It also lowers hiring, onboarding, and training costs. As a result, supporting employees’ mental health increases the company’s bottom line.
Gain insight into the top mental health trends for 2023 and how they impact companies.
Elevated Employee Mental Health Support
According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 32% of adults in the United States reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in October 2021. These mental health issues impact employee engagement, productivity, and job performance. They also affect retention levels and healthcare costs.
As a result, more employers are investing in mental health support for their employees. According to Deloitte’s 2021 Mental Health and Wellness study, the use of digital health apps and peer support workers are among the most effective resources. Counseling, mental health days, and workplace mental health education programs also are effective sources of support.
Increasing Employee Resource Groups
The separation of employees’ professional and personal lives is becoming difficult. It is harder to compartmentalize issues during the coronavirus pandemic than before it began. As a result, employees are bringing more personal problems into the workplace than before. This impacts employees’ overall mental health.
Many employers are providing employee resource groups (ERGs) to support employee work-life balance. These groups serve as communities for employees to connect with others who share their interests or have parts of their identity in common. Examples include ERGs for parents, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, people of color, and people focused on mental health. These groups provide space to promote connection, open communication, and support. Other goals include elevated job satisfaction and retention.
Ongoing Manager and Employee Mental Health Discussions
Employees’ mental health concerns are on the rise. As a result, many managers are privately talking with their employees about mental health challenges.
These managers encourage open dialog about how their employees really are feeling. The managers are concerned about whether any issues at home or work are impacting an employee’s mental health. These managers are showing empathy and providing support however possible.
Many managers are opening up about their own mental health challenges. They also are sharing their experiences with counseling and other forms of support. Setting the example encourages employees to seek support for their own mental health concerns. The more mentally healthy a company’s workforce, the more innovative and successful the company is.
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