Remote working and the fear of job loss due to a recessionary economy have been significant causes for a dip in mental health. Due to a sudden transition in the way we work, several employees have been facing challenges. As per data shared by Total BrainOpens a new window , a mental health and wellness monitoring and support platform, for the Mental Health Index, the number of adult employees who are at risk of developing mental health conditions remains high. It has shown a slight decrease in June, possibly due to the reopening economy and the end of the school year. The Index showed a decline in the number of women at risk for depressive disorder by 27% and general anxiety disorder by 20% from data collected between May 3 and June 28, 2020.
Even though the dip is a positive indicator of stability, there is a concerning mental health crisis in the country. 54% of employees were identified to be at risk for depressive disorder between February and June 2020. Organizations will have to address employee mental health issues since the levels of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions – which have been significantly affected due to the stress, uncertainty, and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Helping employees and their families cope with these changes is essential.
This is a crucial time for companies to identify the next course of action in terms of guiding their employees through these testing times.
HR Technology News: 2020 Highlights a Range of Well-Being Challenges for EmployeesOpens a new window
What Does This Data Mean for HR and Employers?
Total Brain’s Mental Health Index is not the first study to reveal that the mental health of employees working from home in one of the world’s largest crisis is at risk of deteriorating. But it does affirm that employers need to do more to help their employees in this area.
One way is to empower employees to take charge of their own mental health by giving them flexibility in the shift/hours they work. Helping them use their paid time off will also help. An ADP surveyOpens a new window collected information from several managers and business owners. They advised that unless employees were returning from furlough, they should take vacation days off to prevent burnout and reduce stress. This can enable the companies to provide a way in which employees can take a break from their otherwise hectic work schedules, which have become busier due to remote work.
For instance, since April 2020, Omada Health has made its mental health program for stress, anxiety, and depression free for all U.S.-based employers for six months. This is a good opportunity for companies to tap into such resources and provide their employees with the crucial support they need currently.
Financial troubles are also contributing to mental health troubles. A Metlife surveyOpens a new window conducted a few months ago found that nearly 52% of employees are concerned about their financial health due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% of employees are worried about their physical, mental, and social health. It also shares how many employees believe that the right programs to support them have not been provided yet. Providing for financial planning and budgeting programs is an essential step toward reducing employee stress and related issues. For example, financial tools and resources from FinFitOpens a new window are designed to help clients improve the financial health of their employees.
Finally, while these provisions may not be available everywhere, Chubb has set an example by providing work-from-home insuranceOpens a new window in Asia. The insurance covers mental health support too, where a fixed amount is defined as a payment for any mental health or psychological counseling that employees might need to undergo for stress and related issues triggered by working from home. Similarly, Starbucks also initiated its mental health care program by bringing 12,000 store leaders together virtually and creating the Starbucks Mental Health Fundamentals Training. Through this tool, they are training their staff to learn from and respond to signs of mental health challenges.
HR Technology News: Fewer Leaves and Greater Worries – More Crucial Findings on the Impact of Remote WorkOpens a new window
While mental health issues may arise from a range of internal and external factors, there’s no denying that the pandemic has brought these issues to the fore. And while organizations may not be able to control all the external factors contributing to these issues, they can definitely explore ways to support their employees – if not through benefits, by merely giving them a certain amount of flexibility in being able to do their jobs efficiently.
Note: Data for Total Brain’s Mental Health Index was collected from a weekly randomized sample of 500 U.S. workers who use Total Brain.