Almost nine out of 10 employers (86 per cent) agree mental health benefits are key when it comes to recruiting new talent according to new research.
A survey, among CEOs, HR professionals and employees found that supporting mental health in the workplace remained a priority, although all three cohorts said it was important for companies to do more on this issue.
A total of 82 per cent of HR leaders said their companies could to more to support employee mental health.
This is the fifth annual workforce attitudes towards mental health report conduced by Headspace, which provides a meditation and mindfulness app. The survey marks the start of Mental Health Awareness week.
The research found that employees still feel unsettled at work after the disruption of the pandemic and employers need to do more to create a positive work environment and company culture.
Its survey showed that 73 per cent of HR leaders agreed there is still a lot of change at work, with 94 per cent reporting they feel an increased responsibility to improve company culture to support mental health. Both HR leaders and CEOs agreed that they would be likely to increase mental health benefit if there is a recession.
Headspace CEO Russell Glass says: “Workplace mental health continues to be a top three business priority, with employees and CEOs experiencing frequent levels of stress due to market uncertainty and growing workplace pressures.
“In response, companies must not only ensure they have robust mental health and wellbeing programs in place, but that their leaders are tending to their own mental health, fostering open conversations with their teams, and helping to reduce stigma in the workplace.”
With NHS mental health service waitlists near capacity, the need for access to mental health services via your employer has seen increased demand as nearly half (40 per cent) of Brits say that having access to mental health benefits 24/7 is the most important feature on offer from employers. Whilst 86 per cent of employers agree that mental health benefits are key to recruiting new talent, the offer is not currently on the table at every employer across the UK.
To help meet this demandHeadspace has more recently launched International Care as part of its employer offering. The in app platform offers counselling options and an EAP, and is designed with an emphasis on preventative care, offering employers and their staff 24/7 access to dedicated mental health professionals.
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