Mental health conversations have been on the rise in recent years. And while it’s positive that there’s surging interest in the topic, its prevalence is due to the fact that many people are struggling with it.
It’s a conversation that continues in the workplace. For 81 percent of respondents in an American Psychological Association survey, support for mental health will be an important consideration when job hunting in the future.
That’s why it’s crucial for employers to understand mental health and take it seriously. If employees don’t trust that support is in place, employers may find it difficult to recruit and retain talent.
Here’s a closer look at mental health, and how it intersects with other elements of health to impact employee engagement, productivity and performance.
Though the term “mental health” is used frequently, it’s helpful to unpack what exactly it refers to. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a complicated synthesis of stresses and vulnerabilities that can be personal, social or structural in nature.
The WHO emphasizes that mental health has intrinsic and instrumental value, enabling people to make decisions and build relationships — and it’s therefore defined as a basic human right. Self-actualization, effective stress management and the ability to learn and work efficiently are key indicators of mental health. These qualities allow individuals to make meaningful contributions to society and are linked to improved self-esteem, resilience and confidence. Collectively, they foster healthier relationships, stronger community ties and greater personal autonomy.
Research has shown that dealing with a mental illness can increase the chance of someone developing co-occurring diseases. For example, depression can disrupt the body’s hormonal balances and sleep cycles, compromise the immune system, lead to a reduction in energy levels and motivation, and create unhealthy behavior that prioritizes short-term relief over long-term wellbeing.
Conversely, there’s extensive evidence that physical activity improves mental health. Daily exercise can boost sleep quality and protein synthesis, with a positive feedback loop for the body and brain. It can also increase an individual’s sense of vigor and vitality, preparing them to be energized and productive. This can enhance cognition for processing, retaining and concentrating on information.
Mental health conditions can make it more difficult to manage finances effectively, and this can trigger a vicious cycle where a worsening financial situation leads to worsening mental health. These can also work in the reverse order, with financial stress being the catalyst for mental health issues.
A recent survey revealed that 77 percent of Americans say they’ve lost sleep due to financial concerns. And according to the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, a lack of adequate sleep has been shown to amplify negative emotional reactions to stress and reduce positive feelings.
Almost three-quarters of respondents in a survey ranked their mental health at work as either poor or fair, with 78 percent agreeing that their employer isn’t doing enough to address their workplace mental wellbeing.
Employers would do well to resolve this gap in support. Better overall organizational performance has been shown to result from comprehensive mental health strategies. When 66 workplaces that offered such programs were studied, it was found that the benefits resulted in a positive return on investment on all salaries above the federal minimum wage. Furthermore, symptoms associated with anxiety and depression were significantly reduced for almost all (97 percent) study participants.
While providing mental health support can come at a cost, there’s plenty of evidence that shows far larger costs are incurred by ignoring employee mental health, such as attrition and absenteeism-related expenses. When employees can use the mental health benefits provided by work, they’re more likely to stay with the organization. For example, Bloomberg Law found that employees who take disability for mental health reasons have a return to work rate of more than 50 percent when their employer has benefits in place.
For employers, there’s a positive impact to their bottom line when they invest in mental health benefits for their employees. One study found that for every dollar invested in mental health treatment, a return of $4 could be expected.
So it follows that organizations should ensure employees not only have access to mental health support and services, but can access them on their own terms by making them easily available through digital channels at all hours of the day.
TELUS Health Wellbeing provides employers with the tools to help everyone achieve their personal health and wellness goals. In addition, there are personalized offerings designed specifically to help employees navigate mental health challenges, including:
Learn more about the other factors and facets of holistic health, and how TELUS Health can help support both employers and employees.