A pan-India report, the ‘State of Emotional Well-being Report 2024’ by 1to1help, an employee assistance programme provider has revealed some shocking facts about workplace mental health. According to the report, 90% of corporate employees in India under the age of 25 are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, compared to 67% of those over the age of 45, in 2024.
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The report
The recent data revealed a 22% increase in suicide risk and a 17% rise in distress cases compared to 2023. Alarmingly, 59% of employees showed signs of self-harm, indicating the need for manager training to help subordinates practice mental wellness.
The 2nd edition of the State of Emotional Wellbeing Report was created from the reports of 83,000+ counselling sessions, 12,000+ elective screenings, and 42,000+ assessments conducted between January and November 2024.
Though corporate bosses such as NR Narayana Murthy and L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan are advocating for 80-90-hour work weeks and working weekends, Indian youth are facing extreme mental health issues as brought out by the report.
“Our report finds that managers can play a life-changing role, as over half of the manager referrals we received involved a presence of suicidal risk,” said Mahua Bisht, CEO of 1to1help. “This highlights the critical role organisations and managers have in ensuring employees access the right support at the right time.”
According to the report, individuals under the age of 30 were more likely to experience severe symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to those over 45. For many younger employees, adapting to new work environments and establishing careers elevated their mental health struggles.
The report also noted a 7% rise in counselling uptake among male employees, who accounted for 70% of financial consultations. This trend indicated growing financial anxiety and societal pressures in men because of their perceived role as the family ‘breadwinner.’
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