Employers do not address mental health matters in the workplace and many employees don't even understand their current mental health benefits, according to a survey released by Meritain Health and the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health.
The national study of 411 full-time employees with medical benefits found that employees are keenly aware that stress negatively affects them in the workplace, with 94 percent of respondents reporting that their stress level affects job performance. However, in contrast, 52 percent of employees said their employer does not address stress, work/life balance or mental/behavioral health with employees. Moreover, 40 percent of employees said they aren't aware of what mental/behavioral health benefits are offered by their employer. More than one-third of respondents (35.7 percent) would be more likely to use their mental/behavioral health benefits if their employer did a better job of promoting them.
"These survey results illustrate the need for employers to better make the connection between untreated mental health conditions and lost productivity, offer more comprehensive mental health benefits and better promote these benefits to their employees," said Chief Medical Officer of Meritain Health Dr. Larry Luter. "Preventing costly medical conditions begins with education and communication, and we look forward to starting the conversation."
Results from the new survey showed that employees know mental health is important to their overall health and that stress significantly affects them in the workplace. It showed that 95.6 percent think mental and behavioral health is very (75.3 percent) or somewhat (20.3 percent) important in determining overall health.
Employees are aware that stress negatively affects them in the workplace, with 94 percent believing their stress level affects job performance. The survey also found:
55.8 percent said stress affects their general attitude;
39.4 percent said stress affects relationships with co-workers;
36.2 percent said stress affects their productivity;
35.5 percent said stress affects the quality of their work;
33.2 percent said stress affects their relationship with their supervisor.
The national survey also discovered that workers think their employers do not place enough emphasis on mental health and do not adequately communicate their current mental health benefits to employees.
Reprinted with permission. © CCH