There are a multitude of reasons why people continue to suffer from mental health issues in the workplace as employees continue to deal with a post-COVID-19 work environment. However, the survey does give some insight into the causes behind the continuing increase. 

More than half of all respondents said they work more than the contractually-obligated 40-hour week.

However, that number has remained consistent with previous surveys, as has the number of people who said they have high-stress levels (43%).

Still, the number of respondents who said that their job is often stressful has actually increased from 47% to 58% over the course of a year.

Research also showed that pressure (50%), heavy workload (43%) and tight deadlines (41%) are often experienced at work.

Almost 43% of people said they experienced excessive fear, worry or anxiety over the last year, while 40% said they have lost interest in activities they used to enjoy.

In fact, roughly 62% said that they do not even dedicate time to unwind from work, 76% of whom said that they see no need for it, hoping that the issue could solve itself on its own.

The increase in mental health issues is leaving its mark, with productivity severely affected by the growing problem. Around 40% of respondents said that they have trouble concentrating because of poor mental health, while 29% said it often leads to conflict with colleagues. 

Still, almost 75% said that their energy levels at work are either good or very good. But that is still a dip from the 81% recorded the year before.

Pandemic fatigue, which WHO says is a natural response to a prolonged public health crisis, is also leaving its mark. 

Employers at large, it would appear, are trying to respond. In 2020, 50% said that their employer takes mental health seriously. That number has increased to 56% in 2022. 

Still, there is a lot more work to be done, with almost a third of businesses not investing in mental well-being initiatives. Around 40% of respondents said they would like their employer to introduce employee programmes for health and wellbeing, while just 4% said  that their place of work provides stress reduction initiatives

There also seem to be major problems in employees disclosing their stress levels or mental health problems to employers or managers. Almost 72% of respondents said so, up from 68% in 2021.

The appetite for employees to attend workshops or initiatives is clearly there with 84% of respondents saying they would. 

It’s clear that mental health issues in the workplace are on the rise and are greater than what many would have suspected as people moved away from lockdowns and return to some semblance of normality. 

Employers are certainly giving the issue more importance, but it appears that the changes in society over the last two years have radically changed how employees look at their mental health. 

It is now up to employers and organisations to meet raised expectations. The opportunities are clear. However, it would need a major culture change from key stakeholders. 

Are you stressed at work?