Mental Health: A Critical Issue

According to SHRM, half of employee disabilities are related to mental health. Statistics compiled by Mercer and Global Disability Inclusion from over 5 million employees, “people with disabilities make up approximately 7% of the workforce, and 51% of those with disabilities [i.e., 3.5% of the workforce] identified a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, as their primary disability.” 

Further, of the 7% above, only 1 in 7 (14%) have a visible disability, while the other 6 (86%) have an invisible disability. 

Additional SHRM stats from a survey of 1405 employees (occupations not specified): 

• While depression is no longer one of the top workplace mental health issues (now #6, while anxiety is #1), it is apparently increasing among women and younger employees. 

• Reactions incurred “often” at work: 30% “feel bad,” 26% feel “overwhelmed,” and 22% feel “disengaged.” 

Intangibles are difficult to judge; one key to combating the above is communication. It is too easy for managers to focus on the work and neglect employee communication. Although it is not easy, the most effective managers “manage” to do both.