As we embark on Mental Health Month, a variety of recent studies all point to one thing: employees continue to struggle with their mental health. From study to study, the reasons and prescriptions may vary, but one single message is clear: employees are looking to their employers for mental health help and support. Employers need to offer robust and varied mental health benefits, and also need to communicate about those benefits frequently to ensure that employees know about their availability.
Here are summaries of and links to reports on recent mental health studies:
NAMI/IPSOS: Employees want more workplace mental health resources
The 2025 NAMI/Ipsos Workplace Mental Health Poll conducted January 21-27, 2025 is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 2,376 general population adults, age 18 or older, who are employed full-time and work at a business or company with at least 100 employees. Some of the major findings include:
- A significant awareness gap exists around availability of workplace mental health benefits. Mental health training and education are limited in workplaces.
- A strong majority believe it is appropriate to discuss mental health concerns at work, but fewer feel comfortable actually doing so.
- Employees express high demand for mental health education and resources. When implemented, mental health training can have a positive impact on workplace discussions. Moreover, nine in ten believe offering mental health care benefits positively impact workplace culture.
See the full report: The 2025 NAMI Workplace Mental Health Poll
Modern Health: The Workplace Mental Health Crisis of 2025
A survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees, commissioned to assess the state of mental health across America’s workforce at the start of 2025, reveals some alarming trends.
- 74% of those surveyed believe anxiety, caused by the current global political and social environment, leads to burnout at work.
- 76% of respondents reported experiencing some form of low mood, with the majority attributing it to the turbulence of global politics and current events.
- Almost half of respondents say life was easier during the COVID-19 pandemic than it is now—just two months into 2025.
- 74% of employees surveyed expressed a desire for workplace mental health resources specifically tailored to address the anxiety caused by these political and social crises.
See the full report: The Workplace Mental Health Crisis of 2025
Headspace: ‘Workforce State of Mind’ report highlights workers’ mental health concerns
Headspace recently issued results of its seventh annual Workforce State of Mind report, surveying more than 2,000 workers and nearly 250 human resources leaders in the U.S. and the U.K. Results show that:
- 58% of the workers have thought about quitting out of concern for their mental health, and 40% have taken a leave of absence for that reason.
- 71% of the respondents reported they work beyond their usual number of hours at least once a week.
- 75% said they’ve had to be available for work even while on vacation.
- 57% of the workers – and 75% of those working remotely – have cried at work, signaling how isolating work stress can be.
- 92% indicated that their sleep has been negatively impacted by work “at least occasionally.”
- 94% of HR leaders are interested in offering mental health benefits that use AI.
- 89% of employees would feel comfortable using mental health benefits that leverage AI.
Access the full report: The Workforce State of Mind in 2025
Mental Health Resources from ESI EAP