Most UK and US staff need workplace mental health support but stigmas remain

Most employees in the UK and US have felt the need for mental health support at work, with American staff most in need.

However, mental health stigmas still appeared as some workers failed to use available support because they were worried about the impression it would create in work, or because they were discouraged by colleagues or family.

The Piplsay survey, conducted in the US and the UK from September, received 25,000 and 8,000 online responses respectively from individuals aged 18 years and older.

It found 63% of US workers and 54% of UK employees said they felt the need for mental health support at work, while only 51% of US workers and 45% of UK staff were employed by companies who offered such support.

Of those who were offered support, 51% of US workers and 60% of UK workers had never personally reached out to use these services.

This compared with 42% of US workers and 31% of UK workers who said they had and it helped, while only 9% of workers in the US and UK said they had used services provided but these had not helped.

Of those who had not used support services, 36% of US workers and 42% of UK workers did not feel the need for it and 14% of US workers and 16% of UK workers did not believe it would be helpful.

However, of this group 17% of US workers and 14% of UK workers felt uncomfortable seeking help and 11% of US workers and 6% of UK workers were discouraged from doing so by their colleagues or family.

Around a quarter (22%) of UK and US workers were worried about their job or the impression accessing these services would give at work.

 

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