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Mental health less a priority for employers these days, experts say

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Posted at 12:40 PM, Jun 02, 2022
and last updated 2022-06-02 14:40:58-04

Workplaces worldwide made efforts to prioritize mental health at the onset of the pandemic. Many companies are now starting to roll back on those efforts two years later, a survey from headspace health found.

Just 25% of employees said their workplace still focused on mental health. Meanwhile, a survey from the American Psychological Association found there is still a significant need for resources.

About 60% of employees reported experiencing negative impacts of work-related stress.

“We definitely don't want to see that fade back into the shadows,” said Dennis P. Stolle, a senior director of applied psychology at the APA. “It's a critically important issue, and it sends the wrong message to employees if companies begin to pull back from an emphasis on employee well-being.”

As an employee, he said, the biggest thing you can do to advocate for mental health resources is provide feedback to your employer.

“Some employers may be at a loss as to what should they actually do,” he said. “The science is clear in the peer-reviewed literature that good employee psychological well-being leads to factors like higher levels of employee engagement, more innovation, higher levels of team performance and all of that ultimately contributes to higher financial returns.”