Nearly 1 in 5 workers surveyed rate their mental health as ‘Normal’ or ‘Poor’
A Gallup study found that mental health affects women more than men.
Nearly one in five employees who took part in a Gallup survey said their mental health was “fair” or “poor,” according to new data.
The Gallup study surveyed 15,809 workers in the United States from August 23 to September 7, 2022. According to survey results published in his Gallup article in November, 19% of respondents said their mental health was fair or bad. Based on other responses, Gallup estimated that these same workers missed an average of 11.8 days of work per year.
Thirty-four percent of respondents said their mental health was good, and the same number reported that their mental health was very good. These workers, along with 13% who said they had excellent mental health, missed an average of 2.3 days per year.
The findings also show that workers and women aged 18 to 39 may experience worsening mental health. Overall, 36% of women between the ages of 18 and her 29 said their mental health was fair or poor, compared to 27% of men in the same age group. In the next age group, women from her 30 to her 39, the proportion of men drops slightly. Her 29% of women reported normal or poor mental health, and 17% of men reported the same. Women report poorer mental health than men across all age groups, although numbers continue to decline with increasing age.
Nearly 2 in 5 workers report that their job has had a somewhat or very negative impact on their mental health, according to the survey. Thirty percent reported the opposite effect and 30% reported no effect.
One of the many ways employers can get involved in this is by providing support services. The survey showed that 43% of respondents’ employers “provide readily available mental health support services,” while 24% said their employers do not. 33% were unsure.
Looking for ways to support employee mental health? Check out the OH&S articles Mental Health in the Workforce: How to Support Your Employees and Frameworks for Supporting Employee Mental Health and Well-Being. Read on and listen to the OH&S SafetyPod episode “How to Support Employee Mental Health and Wellness.” wellness.
About the author
Alex Saurman is an occupational health and safety content editor.
