Study Reveals Gap in Workplace Mental Health Support Despite Available Benefits

A recent study by the HR.com Research Institute, 'HR.com's State of Employee Mental Health & Stress in the Workplace 2025', reveals a stark disparity 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, indicating a critical gap in support.

The study surveyed a wide range of employees, finding that 61% frequently experience stress at work. Despite this, less than half of the surveyed companies have effective systems to address mental health issues. This lack of support is further compounded by a decline in employee perception of organizational commitment to mental health, with 34% of respondents feeling their organizations do not go beyond basic benefits, a 15-point increase from the previous year.

Only 9% of organizations have measures to assess employee mental health, leaving most without the data needed to improve support services. Additionally, the study points to a significant lack of preparedness among managers, with just 15% trained to guide stressed employees and 14% able to recognize signs of stress.

Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, stresses the importance of creating a supportive culture, training managers, and holding leadership accountable to address these challenges. The findings call for an urgent reevaluation of mental health support systems in the workplace to ensure a healthier, more productive workforce.