Workplace Mental Health Statistics

Global Mental Health Statistics

82% of workers with a diagnosed mental illness do not inform their workplace managers about their condition. The common reasons are fearing the negative impact on their career, being embarrassed, and even losing their job. (Sangar, 2019).

Mental disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion. (Mental health in…, n.d.) This is due to increased absenteeism and cost, and reduced productivity. (Mental health policies…, 2005)

Every dollar invested in treating common mental disorders gives a return that is four times due to improved productivity and overall health. (Mental health…, n.d.)

When depression is properly identified and address, businesses will be able to improve employee productivity and the number of hours worked and reduce sick days, employee turnovers, and job-related accidents. (Mental health problems… 2010)

Mental Health America published a study that found that workplace issues negatively affect the sleep of two-thirds of workers. Half of the respondents would also engage in different unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drinking alcohol as a coping mechanism. (Mind the workplace report, 2019)

10.7% of the world’s population (792 million) have at least one type of mental health disorder (Ritchie and Roser, 2018) That number rises to 22.1% in countries that are affected by conflict, fragility, and violence. (Mental health, n.d.)

The most common mental illnesses are anxiety disorder and depression. The two disorders make up more than half of all cases. Anxiety disorder affects 3.8% or 284 million of the world’s population and depression affects 3.4% or 264 million. (Ritchie and Roser, 2018)

Mental illness is more prevalent among women (11.9%) than men (9.3%). This is true for most types of mental illness except for schizophrenia where most countries show a higher prevalence in men. (Ritchie, n.d., Ritchie and Roser, 2018)

Mental disorders also affect one’s life span. Those with a mental disorder have an average life expectancy loss of 10.1 years. (JAMA Psychiatry, 2015)

Globally, 14.3% of deaths are connected to mental disorders. (JAMA Psychiartry, 2015)

The service for mental health diagnosis, treatment, and referral for low and medium-income countries and some low-income areas of high-income countries are limited to hospitals or clinics. Services that should be delivered in primary care and also in community health centers are severely lacking. (Wainberg, et. al., 2017)

Lancet Psychiatry published a study claiming that by 2030, the overall cost of treating anxiety and depression disorders in 36 countries will be $147 billion. The study further states that the cost for treatment pales in comparison to the 5% work productivity improvement and $399 billion economic gain.

Based on the US Express Scripts data, there has been a 41 percent increase in antidepressant use for the 13 to 19-year-old age bracket since 2017. This same age bracket experienced a 17.3 percent change in anxiety medications during 2020 and 2021, the first two years of the pandemic.

The American Psychological Association reports 4 times higher rates of anxiety and depression in adults between April 2020 and August 2021.

Psychiatric medication withdrawal studies show many patients have difficulties stopping their medication once they start due to severe withdrawal symptoms.

In fact, we now know that job stress and other work related psychosocial hazards are emerging as the leading contributors to the burden of occupational disease and injury.

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Works Cited:

Mental health. (n.d.). Retrieved from from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/mental-health
Mental health in the workplace. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/mental-health-in-the-workplace
Sangar, Reena. (2019) Mental Health in the workplace: Global Impact Study. Retrieved from https://www.ipsos.com/en/mental-health-workplace-global-impact-study
Mental health policies and programmes in the workplace. (2005). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/services/13_policies%20programs%20in%20workplace_WEB_07.pdf
Mental health problems in the workplace (2010). Harvard Mental Health Letter. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/mental-health-problems-in-the-workplace
Mind The Workplace Report. (2019). Mental Health America. https://www.mhanational.org/research-reports/2019-mind-workplace-report
Ritchie, H. (n.d.). Global mental health: Five key insights which emerge from the data. Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://ourworldindata.org/global-mental-health
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2018, January 20). Mental Health. Retrieved December 12, 2020, from https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health
Wainberg, M. L., Scorza, P., Shultz, J. M., Helpman, L., Mootz, J. J., Johnson, K. A., Neria, Y., Bradford, J. E., Oquendo, M. A., & Arbuckle, M. R. (2017). Challenges and Opportunities in Global Mental Health: a Research-to-Practice Perspective. Current psychiatry reports, 19(5), 28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0780-z
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health-care.htm
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/09/style/medication-depression-anxiety-adhd.html
https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(98)00126-7/fulltext

Costs to Business (Australia):

Untreated depression results in over 6 million working days lost each year in Australia.
12 million days of reduced productivity each year
Stress related workers compensation claims have doubled in recent years, costing over $10 billion each year.
The average psychological injury claim costs $250,000.
Work pressure accounts for around half of all psychological injury claims, and harassment and bullying for around a quarter.
$10.9 billion lost each year in Australia
Australian businesses lose over $6.5 billion each year by failing to provide early intervention/treatment for employees with mental health conditions.
An employee with depression is expected to take on average 1 day per week off sick. 6% of employees will have depression this year.
Estimated cost in absenteeism is $10K per year per worker with depression (let alone other mental health issues)

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Absenteeism

A survey of over 5000 Australian workers indicated that 25% of workers took time off each year for stress related reasons.
An Australian worker with depression takes 3-4 days off each month,
$9660 AUD annually, per worker with depression. (At least 6% of the workforce is estimated to have depression).
Untreated depression results in over 6 million working days lost each year in Australia.

Presenteeism

Costs up to 6 times that of absenteeism
An average of 6.5 days of productivity lost each year per employee (averaged across all employees).

Turnover

Turnover is estimated to cost 6-9 months salary
Higher rates of turnover amongst people experiencing mental distress.

Litigation

The average psychological injury claim costs $250,000 AUD.
Work pressure accounts for around half of all psychological injury claims and harassment and bullying for around a quarter.

Human Resources – Time

$10.9 billion lost each year in Australia
Australian businesses lose over $6.5 billion each year by failing to provide early intervention/treatment for employees with mental health conditions.

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Lost Productivity/Creativity

Difficult to quantify but decreased cognitive function usually associated with mental disorders.

Cognitive deficits may result in the inability to:

pay attention
process information quickly
remember and recall information
respond to information quickly
think critically, plan, organize and solve problems
initiate speech

(NCBI)

Benefits of addressing Mental Health

Because it makes good business sense

PWC research shows that every dollar invested in creating a mentally healthy workplace returns $2.30 to the organization. It also:

Reduces costs associated with worker absence and high turnover
Achieves greater staff loyalty and a higher return on training investment
Minimise stress levels and improving morale
Avoids litigation and fines for breaches of health and safety laws.
Avoids the time and cost involved in discrimination claims.
Avoids industrial disputes.

Because it improves productivity

Every dollar spent on identifying and supporting workers with mental health issues yields close to 500% return in improved productivity (increased output and reduced sick leave).

Because society and workplaces are diverse

People are diverse, and a diverse workplace reflects that. Successful organizations recognise the contribution made by a diverse workforce which includes people with mental health problems. Not only are there people with mental health issues in your workforce, but many of your customers and clients also have mental health problems, so having people who reflect your customer base is always a good idea.

Most of us will experience a mental health issue at some point in time, whether for a short period of time, or for longer. And the rest of us will know people who are affected. Trying to avoid dealing with mental health at work is not only futile, but can be damaging for those experiencing the issue and those around them. Where mental health issues are the norm, it makes sense to have a plan to address them at work.

Because mental illness can affect anyone

Employers have a legal obligation to manage the quality of mental health in the workplace and ensure workplaces are psychologically safe.

Under Work Health and Safety legislation, employers are required to take reasonable actions to provide a safe and healthy workplace. In practice, this means providing working conditions which do not cause or aggravate a mental health condition. Common risks to mental health at work include job stress, bullying and harassment, and workplace trauma.

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