The Q1 2022 Mental Health Index: U.S. Worker Edition continues to show a decline in sustained attention combined with a rising risk of PTSD—up 121% compared to before the pandemic.
Several notable improvements: The risk of anxiety and depressive disorders dropped to pre-pandemic levels and the risk of stress has dropped 18% since December. However, domestic and global concerns like inflation and the war in Ukraine make employees still vulnerable to rising anxiety and depression.
The risk of PTSD remains high and makes employees more susceptible to additional mental health concerns. There is a strong correlation between PTSD and other mental health concerns, such as addiction, anxiety, and depression. For example, while the risk of addiction initially dropped in January, there is an upward trend in March with a 15% higher risk than pre-pandemic levels.
Employers continue to address employee wellbeing concerns: Initial results of AHPI’s employee wellbeing benefits survey show the most common changes to wellbeing benefits to address employee mental health are:
- Expanding both telehealth and in-person mental health sessions;
- Adding or improving EAP services;
- Expanding paid leave benefits; and
- Increasing supervisor training on mental health.
Additional insights into the Q1 results will be shared later today on a webinar hosted by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers at noon Eastern. Register here.
Separately, the EEOC is reporting an increasing number of discrimination claims based on mental health conditions, largely fueled by increasing charges based on anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.