Gauging employees’ mental health

Four of five HR leaders surveyed by the McKinsey Global Institute say mental health and well-being are top priorities for their organizations. Senior partners Dana Maor, Michael Park, Patrick Simon, and colleagues explain that employers can reduce attrition by devising specific interventions, such as policies to reduce burnout, to address employees’ shifting mental health and well-being concerns over time.

The state of employees’ mental health and well-being exists along a continuum, from flourishing to languishing.

Image description:

Three pictograms with silhouettes of people representing the share of respondents in a mental health and well-being survey. In total, there are 100 silhouettes between the three pictograms, representing the total share (100%) of respondents.

The first pictogram (on the far left) contains 75 figures, representing the 75 out of every 100 employees who require support that fosters good mental health. The second pictogram (in the middle) contains 24 figures, representing the 24 employees out of every 100 who require support for moderate mental-health needs. The third pictogram (on the far right) contains a single figure which represents the 1 in every 100 employees who may need intense mental-health services or treatment.

Above the pictograms, a scale runs from “flourishing” on the far left to languishing on the far right. Individuals move back and forth along this continuum over the course of their lives, as indicated by the scale and arrows that connect the three groups.

Below each of the pictograms are examples of mental-health interventions employers can take for each level. For example, programs to boost office community for those with good mental health, peer support programs for those with moderate mental-health needs, and crisis supports for those with intense mental-health needs.

Estimates are based on historical claims data, are directional, and may differ over time and vary by employer. The survey included roughly 15,000 employees across 15 countries and was conducted between February and April 2022.

End of image description.

To read the report, see “The State of Organizations 2023: Ten shifts transforming organizations,” April 26, 2023.