Eight in 10 non-native employees experiencing negative mental health symptoms as a direct result of their working environment.
This is according to Axa Global Healthcare’s fourth non-native Mind Health Report which surveyed 1,458 people between the ages of 18 and 75 living across 16 countries.
The report found that almost half (49%) of non-native employees had experienced burnout as a result of their job, along with a range of mental health conditions.
It also found 54% reported trouble sleeping, 53% reported a loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities and 51% reported difficulty concentrating.
Just under half reported feelings of worthlessness, with the same percentage citing a loss of self-confidence and a further 37% reported appetite or eating disorders.
Incidence of mental health conditions among non-native workers rose by 10% since 2022, yet there has been a 9% decrease in the number of non-natives seeking professional help to support their wellbeing.
Over a third (38%) were self-managing their condition; while more than a quarter (29%) were dissatisfied with their company’s psychological support services.
However, 62% of those who self-managed their mental health admitted that their conditions are not well-managed.
According to the findings, non-native workers were 22% more likely than natives to attribute their mind health conditions to working factors. They were also 18% more likely to experience a loss of pleasure in usual activities (18%), feelings of worthlessness (20%) and appetite or eating disorders (16%).
More than a quarter (27%) of non-native employees have been on sick leave once or more for problems relating to their mind health over the last 12 months – 17% higher than sickness rates among their native peers.
Non-natives are also 50% more likely to have been on sick leave multiple times across the last year.
Xavier Lestrade, CEO of Axa Global Healthcare, said: “It’s a concerning trend to see that mind health among the non-native community has been worsening year-on-year.
“The pandemic years have impressed upon employers the need to support good health among their employees, but effective mental health support is becoming paramount for companies to create a healthy working environment.
“Health insurance policies which offer dedicated mental health support in multiple languages can help businesses to bridge the wellbeing gap for their non-native workforce, ensuring that the experience of working overseas remains successful and rewarding for both individuals and businesses worldwide.”
