Mental health: Poor marks for employers

The latest AXA Mind Health Study shows that nowhere does the workplace have a greater impact on mental well-being than in Switzerland. And this in turn has an impact on the job: one in six people reported that they were absent from work last year due to mental health problems. More support services are required in companies. The AXA Mind Health Study, which is conducted annually in 16 countries worldwide, shows that the Swiss rate their mental health more positively than respondents from other countries. According to the results of the study, fewer people in Switzerland are affected by problems such as depression, anxiety or stress than in the previous year. Nevertheless, the figures remain high: overall, around one in four people in Switzerland currently report mental health problems. According to this year's survey, for example, 15% of respondents are currently suffering from depression.

Workplace sickness

It is striking that nowhere else does the workplace have as great an influence on mental well-being as in Switzerland, namely the same as private life. A high proportion of employees surveyed reported sleep disorders (47%), stress and anxiety (33%), feelings of worthlessness (33%), loss of appetite or eating disorders (24%) or difficulty concentrating (39%) due to the working environment. As a consequence, almost a third of those surveyed stated that they were less committed to their work and 22% were even considering changing jobs. While there are no significant differences between the sexes, younger people (18-24 years) in particular suffer more mentally from their working conditions.

Economic costs of 19.6 billion US dollars

17% of respondents in Switzerland say they have been absent from work in the last year due to mental health problems. Almost a third of employees say they have already been affected by burnout in the past - in the twelve months prior to the survey, it was almost one in ten. The costs of work-related stress were calculated by the Centre for Economics and Business Research on behalf of AXA. According to the study, Switzerland suffers an annual GDP loss of 19.6 billion US dollars due to work-related health problems.

Lack of support

Despite, or perhaps because of, the great importance of the workplace, many employees complain about the lack of support services at work: 42% of respondents stated that they receive no support in the area of mental health. Of those already affected by mental illness, such as burnout, only half were satisfied with the support they received from their employer. Trust in superiors is also often correspondingly low: Only just under a third of those surveyed would turn to their manager if they had mental health problems. Corresponding offers and initiatives would certainly have an impact: for 45% of those surveyed, such measures would have a positive effect on their ability to stay with the company.

However, designing suitable support measures in the area of mental health is challenging and the needs of respondents are as diverse as the symptoms of the illness itself: In addition to training and coaching as well as an increased focus on mental health, they would above all like easier access to advice from specialists and better coverage of medical care in the area of mental health.

Source: AXA