It is no surprise that stress and anxiety have increased in recent years, especially with the stress that the pandemic has caused. However, as things have supposedly begun to get back to “normal”, society would have us believe that mental health concerns are lessening. Unfortunately, that is simply not the case. Mental health concerns and emergencies are still a large social concern, and workplace stress is at an all-time high.

JobSage surveyed over 1,000 Americans about how their company supports their mental health

The data shows:

• In 2023, 67% were stressed and 54% were anxious due to their jobs. That’s up from 2022 when only 55% were stressed and 36% were anxious.
• More people experienced burnout in 2023 than in 2022.
• A new source of work-related stress for Americans in 2023 is the lack of benefits.

While mental health support increased during the pandemic, many insurance companies have begun to limit their coverage of mental healthcare, which has left individuals in a lurch. Employers are also not providing as much support or resources for mental healthcare as workers would like. With inflation, and rising costs in various aspects of our lives, the cost of mental healthcare is a huge factor when it comes to whether individuals will seek out mental health support.

Workers have also said that they don’t like to talk about their mental health in the workplace due to fear that their credibility will be questioned – highlighting the stigma that still surrounds mental health. Some individuals have also said that they will take mental health days but won’t disclose to their employer that this is the reason for them taking a personal day out of fear of pushback. Anxiety has increased in the workplace due to individuals being afraid of being laid off.

In America, especially, we are constantly told that we need to do more and be more, and that productivity should be the primary goal in every area of our lives. If we are not being productive, we are fed the idea that we are being “lazy”, and many workers feel that they need to push through their mental health concerns to continue being productive and a “value” to society.

Social support is so important when it comes to mental health, and employees have emphasized their need for social support at work. Unfortunately, many individuals have said how social support is not a priority at their work, which contributes to their anxiety, depression, and/or burnout.

Anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout are severe and important mental health concerns that need to be addressed in the workplace – especially as our world tries to find a “new normal” following the pandemic. We need to hold employers accountable for addressing the mental health concerns of their employees and urge them to provide important resources and support in the workplace. While we have made progress with fighting the stigma that surrounds mental health, it still impacts a large majority of individuals who need mental health support.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone!

Visit Mental Health America for guidance, support, and resources here: https://www.mhanational.org/finding-help