Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Young Workers: Insights and Solutions
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Young Workers: Insights and Solutions
Written by: Paula Antalffy 4-5 minute read
A recently published Fortune article shared insights about the profound impact of mental health struggles among Gen Z and young millennial employees in Britain. The research, conducted by Vitality, a health and life insurer with over 30 million members, shows stark findings about how mental health difficulties are affecting young people and their impact on the wider economy.
The Mental Health Reality: In numbers
Vitality’s analysis reveals that Gen Z and young millennial workers in the UK miss the equivalent of a day's work every week due to mental health challenges. This totals nearly 50 days a year per employee, costing the British economy a staggering £138 billion ($176 billion).
When comparing this to other generations, a key difference in productivity can be found. Gen X and baby boomers report an average of 36.3 mentally absent work days annually, while younger workers under 30 experience a significantly higher loss of 60 days per year, a 64% difference.
So where do these issues come from?
According to Vitality's research, this productivity decline stems from inadequate employer support, particularly for younger, less affluent workers. Arguably, these workers, who often need the most support, are easily overlooked by older managers, who are unsure about how to relate to or connect with them.
It's important to recognize that while physical health issues, such as illness, are often viewed as the primary obstacle to workplace productivity, mental health problems actually lead to a 150% greater loss in productivity compared to physical health challenges. What’s more, despite some workplace offering wellness tools, Vitality’s research shows that only a quarter of employees use them - which indicates a gap in communication or a reluctance to seek help.
Other research around this topic shows that generally both employees and managers alike, find it difficult to take advantage of workplace wellness benefits, because they often feel too busy or stressed to prioritise their wellbeing.
But what is causing all this stress? Statistics show that the most common sources of stress among adults in the United States include work, money, and health (Statista - https://www.statista.com/topics/2099/stress-and-burnout/#topicOverview). Everyday stressors like kids, finances, and relationship troubles are common, but chronic stress, which lasts over a long period, can negatively impact both mental and physical health. To address the mental health crisis facing today's workforce in the UK, it's crucial to identify and understand the root causes of stress.
The Rising Burnout Epidemic
Vitality’s findings echo concerns from Mental Health UK, which reports a growing trend of burnout in Britain. The 2024 Burnout Report reveals that nine in 10 adults have experienced high or extreme levels of stress, with young staffers being more prone to suffering and taking time off work.
Deloitte examined this phenomenon further within their own research into Gen Z and Millennial workers. When asked why workers were so stressed, and struggling with burnout, roughly three-quarters of younger employees attribute their stress to the demands of work and a lack of balance between professional and personal obligations.
Call to Action
For Vitality’s research, Mental Health UK’s research, as well as other sources, it is becoming increasingly clear that the UK’s workplace is experiencing a mental health crisis, for which decisive action is necessary.
Perhaps the best way to tackle this is a two pronged approach, looking at both wider government legislation and individual responsibility of the workplace to support their workers better.
Mental Health UK has urged the UK Government to start collaborating with them on reducing their continued work absences. Suggestions include convening a "national summit" to explore strategies for creating healthy workplaces and better supporting individuals struggling with stress and poor mental health.
Individual employers can prioritise their workers' mental health by providing more resources, encouraging open dialogue, and fostering supportive workplace communities. Organisations should also recognize the multifaceted nature of mental health, understanding that each employee faces unique stresses that require thoughtful consideration. This means not only enhancing the benefits available but also making them easier to access and improving communication about these benefits. These steps are crucial for building a strong foundation to better support employees.
Make Workplace Mental Health Support Easy
For businesses aiming to address the UK's workplace mental health challenges, solutions like myday offer practical ways to enhance mental health, build community, and provide additional team benefits. Here are some features of the myday app that can help:
Building Community: The myday app's community section connects individuals with similar experiences, fostering support through intra- and inter-company groups. These can be used to create groups which help aid and support with stress, burnout and mental health. Users can also send kudos and connect with experts across various fields, enhancing employee engagement and support.
Sharing Essential Information and Benefits: myday provides a centralised platform for sharing crucial information, such as policies, health and safety updates, available courses, and company benefits, including mental health support.
Gamified Daily Activities: Employees are incentivised to complete daily wellness tasks, participate in peer support groups, and engage in step challenges, earning Planet Points with tangible value. This encourages personal and planetary health, with real-life donations from employers to meaningful causes.
Pulse Surveys and Wellness Questionnaires: Leadership can create customisable surveys to assess team wellness, including mental wellbeing. Employees can also share personal wellness data, gaining insights into their habits.
Content Library: myday offers a comprehensive library with resources in four key areas: Feel, Eat, Connect, and Move. Users can curate and save resources relevant to their needs.
Want to learn more about myday and how we can help elevate your wellness strategy to the next level? Book a call with our team today!
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