Statistics for May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
Workplace Mental Health Statistics May 2nd
Introduction and Statistic #1:
In recognition of:
- May being Mental Health Awareness Month
- My being a licensed mental health treatment professional for 42 years
- My decision in late 2019 to devote more of my time, energy and attention to employee mental health
- Employee and workplace mental health garnering ever increasing attention in workplaces today.
I have decided to publish one mental health statistic focused article every business day (M — F) during the month of May. If my old school math is correct, this should be 22 statistic focused articles over the course of the month. These articles will be in addition to the regular articles I try to publish three times a week.
The statistics I will be referencing will come from a number of sources and reports including:
- Lyra Health’s 2022 State of Workforce Mental Health Survey Report. This survey consisted of more than 1000 full time employees and 250 employee benefits leaders across the United States. The survey was conducted in late 2021.
For each statistic focused article, in addition to the individual statistic, I will share my thoughts and comments about the statistic.
I hope you find the statistics and my insights and comments beneficial to your work and thinking regarding workplace and employee mental health.
Statistic #1:
From Lyra’s 2022 State of Workforce Mental Health Survey Report.
- 31% of the survey respondents reported their mental health has declined over the past year. This is a 7% increase over the 2020 survey results.
My Thoughts and Comments:
I am surprised that the percentage was not higher. One of the challenges with interpreting survey data is that one does often not know how the question were asked. The term mental health lacks a standardized, consensus based definition and meaning. Therefore, it means different things to be different people.
The term mental health is commonly used today as a proxy term or synonym for mental illness. In terms of the survey, does a 31% decline in mental health mean a 31% increase in diagnosable mental illness or a 31% decline on the flourishing to languishing mental health (mental wellness, mental wellbeing, positive mental health) scale?
