The recent unveiling of the TELUS Mental Health Index by TELUS Health, which surveys the mental well-being of employees across multiple countries, brings to light significant insights. The findings from the United States report reveal a concerning stagnation in the mental health of American workers, noting an absence of improvement over the course of more than a year. This comprehensive index offers vital data and underscores the pressing need for strategies to bolster mental health in the workplace, shedding light on the persistent challenges faced by employees in the United States and beyond.
Here are three key insights from the report for HR professionals to consider moving forward:
Psychological Health and Safety
A concerning one-third of respondents feel their employers either neglect or inadequately support psychological health and safety, with younger workers under 40 notably 70 percent more likely to perceive a lack of support compared to their over 50 counterparts. This presents a critical issue as younger generations become a larger part of the workforce, emphasizing the strong correlation between perceived workplace support and its impact on mental health and productivity.
Trust
The TELUS Mental Health Index further reveals the younger workforce’s vulnerability to negative mental health outcomes due to a lack of trusted relationships within the workplace. A significant 37 percent report an absence of trusted professional relationships, a factor closely linked to feelings of isolation. Workers lacking trusted confidants at their job are over three times more susceptible to feelings of isolation. This issue is notably more prevalent among workers under 40, who are twice as likely to report an absence of trusted personal relationships compared to their counterparts over 50, highlighting the critical need for cultivating authentic connections in the workplace.
Work Expectations
Lastly, the TELUS Mental Health Index examines job expectations, showing that 62 percent of workers believe their job demands are realistic, correlating with higher mental health scores than the national average. Conversely, the 25 percent who view their job demands as excessive experience considerably lower mental health scores, with a substantial number reporting a detrimental effect on productivity, highlighting the critical balance between job demands and employee mental health.
These findings from the TELUS Mental Health Index illuminate the complex interplay between workplace dynamics and mental health, emphasizing the need for organizations to cultivate environments that value psychological safety, trust, and realistic expectations to support employee well-being and productivity.
Read the full report: TELUS Mental Health Index
