Poor Mental Health on the Rise Among Australian Workforce

Original article published by NSCA Foundation

Almost half of the Australian workforce (46%) say their work is suffering as a result of poor mental health, according to the ADP Research Institute’s People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View survey. The survey of almost 1400 workers in Australia found that 56% of millennial workers (25- to 34-year-olds), compared to 17% of the 55+ age bracket, are also suffering as a result of poor mental health. The survey also revealed that people working from home are more likely to feel that poor mental health is having a detrimental impact on their work (55%) than their colleagues in the workplace (36%). Across the Asia–Pacific region, 56% of workers said mental health issues are taking a toll on their work.

Other recently published studies indicate that alongside the uncertainty and disruption caused by lockdowns, the COVID-19 infection itself can increase the risk of mental health problems developing, and as a result, mental health services have been inundated in many countries. In addition, the frequent stress and burnout that many workers were already feeling appears to have been exacerbated since the pandemic, with 70% of workers across Australia saying they experience stress at work at least once a week, up from 62% pre-pandemic in 2020, while 27% feel stressed four or more times a week.

The most common cause of stress is having increased responsibility as a result of the pandemic, with 45% of workers citing it as a major cause. Other sources of stress include the length of the working day (29%), problems with technology (27%) and concerns over job security (27%). Kylie Baullo, Managing Director ANZ of ADP, said that there are ongoing issues around the rising cost of living worldwide, with the demands placed on workers across industries only rising. Baullo noted that there are, however, a range of issues and factors which can lead to mental ill health. “It’s concerning to see the number of workers, and especially millennial workers, struggling in Australia due to mental health issues. It is important to note that workers may be struggling whether they are working from home or at the office — in this case, managers should be vigilant to ensure they are offering support no matter the working location,” Baullo said.

Most Australian employers (82%) are being proactive about finding new ways to support the mental health of their workforce. The initiatives tried include checking in or communicating with employees (33% of workers say their employers are doing so), allowing wellbeing days off (27%), implementing Employee Assistance Programs (23%) and allowing staff to take additional breaks during the day (21%). Baullo said that unless the causes of poor mental health — whether they be personal or work-related — are identified and addressed, the impact of well-intentioned schemes could be undermined. “Employers need to prioritise ways to boost workplace mental wellbeing, and remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” Baullo said.