A global perspective on mental health challenges and solutions
As we approach World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2025, it's crucial to address one of the most pervasive barriers to mental wellbeing in our professional lives: workplace stigma. Despite years of wellness initiatives and awareness campaigns, our most recent TELUS Mental Health Index report (MHI) confirms that mental health stigma continues to impact many employees worldwide, affecting their career trajectories, self-perception and overall wellbeing.
With mental health taking centre stage globally this October, it's time to move beyond awareness to action. Organizations that successfully address mental health stigma can help unlock opportunities for cultural transformation and improved employee wellbeing.
How stigma manifests globally
Our MHI analysis of over 19,000 employed adults across 12 countries, reveals that while mental health stigma in the workplace manifests differently across cultures, it shares common threads that impact employees universally. From North America to Asia and Europe, the data shows concerning patterns that demand immediate attention.
The majority of workers express concerns about disclosing mental health issues in the workplace due to potential career consequences. These concerns are significantly more pronounced among workers under 40 - highlighting the impact to emerging talent and the future leadership pipeline. In addition to career fears, younger employees are also more likely to feel negatively about themselves for experiencing mental health challenges, creating additional barriers to seeking support. This is a clear indication of the power of the workplace context, how younger workers perceive stigma at work - which might differ from other areas in life - and how that experience at work impacts them.
Below are some key findings from each region:
Have we progressed since 2021?
This answer, unfortunately, is “not significantly’’. Findings in Canada, the UK, the US and Australia suggest that mental health self-stigma has shown minimal improvement since 2021. In Canada and Australia stigma levels have barely improved, while the UK has seen no change and the US has actually experienced a decline despite widespread corporate and societal awareness efforts deployed over the past four years.
Here are the learnings from Canada, the United States, the UK and Australia:
Unprepared leadership: The training gap
The challenge extends beyond employee stigma. A significant number of managers report they are unequipped to help employees deal with mental health issues in the workplace. Across countries, many leaders admit that they lack the knowledge and skills to respond when mental health challenges arise in their teams.
Some takeaways below:
Workers lack mental wellbeing program awareness
Additionally, a substantial number of workers report that communication regarding their organization’s health and wellbeing programs is unclear or inconsistent. This communication gap highlights the need to reassess outreach strategies to ensure both employees and their managers have a clear understanding of available mental health resources and support services.
What we learned about communications:
The path forward: Strategic solutions for employers
As an organizational leader, manager or employee, you have the opportunity to combat mental health stigma in your workplace and gain a competitive advantage. The time for change is now, and it starts with each of us — in every conversation, every policy decision and every moment we choose empathy over judgment.
About the TELUS Mental Health Index
The TELUS Mental Health Index provides insight into the mental health of 19,000 employed adults and the trend over time. Organizations can use the MHI to inform the need for mental health support, reduce stigma and guide resource allocation effectively.