Study Reveals Gap in Workplace Mental Health Support Despite Available Benefits

A recent study by the HR.com Research Institute, titled 'HR.com's State of Employee Mental Health & Stress in the Workplace 2025', reveals a troubling disconnect between the mental health benefits offered by organizations and their effectiveness in supporting employees. With 89% of organizations providing mental health benefits, only 28% of employees find these benefits helpful in managing workplace stress, pointing to a critical need for improvement in how mental health support is implemented and perceived.

The study's findings are based on a comprehensive survey that shows 61% of employees frequently experience stress at work, yet fewer than half of the surveyed companies have effective systems to address these mental health challenges. This discrepancy is further exacerbated by a 15-point increase in the number of employees who feel their organizations do not go beyond basic benefits to support mental health, now standing at 34%.

One of the most alarming revelations is the lack of measures to assess employee mental health, with only 9% of organizations having such systems in place. This absence of data hinders the ability of companies to tailor and improve their support services effectively. Additionally, the study points to a significant gap in manager preparedness, with just 15% of managers trained to guide stressed employees and a mere 14% able to recognize signs of stress among their team members.

Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com, stresses the importance of creating a supportive culture, enhancing manager training, and ensuring leadership accountability to address these challenges. The study underscores the urgent need for businesses to reassess and strengthen their mental health support systems to not only improve employee well-being but also to enhance productivity and workplace morale. For more details on the study, visit https://www.hr.com.