New research from Vitality has revealed that employees are uncomfortable speaking about their mental health in the workplace, with only 5% saying they would speak to their line manager.
With so many feeling too uncomfortable to raise mental health concerns with their managers, businesses are at risk of a hidden productivity crisis, as Vitality’s research reveals that 41% of workers have considered taking time off work due to stress, burnout or poor mental wellbeing.
Furthermore, with 53% of Gen Z workers saying they have considered taking time off in the past 12 months due to these conditions, it appears to be a crisis that has the potential to continue into the future if not addressed.
Ultimately, the new findings challenge a common workplace assumption that employees will raise concerns with their manager when they need support, and as such, reliance on manager-led conversations is no longer sufficient. Instead, they highlight a broader opportunity for employers to create environments where support is easier to access earlier, without employees needing to reach a point of escalation.
By putting the right interventions in place and ensuring timely access to appropriate help, organisations can take a more proactive approach to employee mental health that can help to drive better outcomes for both employees and businesses.
Dr Arun Thiyagarajan, CEO of VitalityHealth, said “This new research highlights that if support depends on waiting for people to escalate serious concerns, too many people will fall through the cracks. Businesses who move to a proactive and visible model of support, can make it easy for employees to access help independently and at an earlier stage.
“That means offering a range of options people can engage with in different ways, whether that’s digital tools to manage day-to-day mental wellbeing, structured self-help support, or access to therapy, all without unnecessary barriers or delays. By making support more visible and easier to access, employers can help people act earlier, improving both individual outcomes and overall business performance.”
Through its health plans, Vitality supports this approach by enabling members to access mental health support directly via its Care Hub, without needing to go through their employer or line manager. This includes access to digital tools, guided self-management programmes and talking therapies, delivered remotely or face to face where appropriate – ensuring employees can seek support at the point of need, not just when issues escalate or are disclosed.
