The Link Between Mental Health and Business Results

A significant number of U.S. workers are suffering from mental health conditions and that number has grown throughout the pandemic. According to The Standard’s 2020 Behavioral Health Impact Update, the percentage of employees with mental health issues rose from 39% to 46%.¹ And the number of employees suffering from a serious mental illness increased from 7% to 11%.¹

What many of your clients may not know is that taking care of the mental health of individual employees can also protect their bottom line. How is that so? Working with unaddressed behavioral health issues can make it difficult for employees to perform at the level their organization needs. Not only is this hard on the employee, it can also lead to a real monetary cost for their organization.

A Look at the Numbers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average wage of a U.S. worker is $990 per week.² If only one employee is less productive for 20 hours each week, an employer could lose $495 per week. With almost half of the workforce experiencing mental health issues, that number of underperforming wages being paid grows fast.

This graphic shows how productivity lost due to mental health issues can add up over a year.

Supporting Mental Health and the Bottom Line

How can you help your clients combat lost productivity due to mental health challenges?

1. Share behavioral health data and resources with your clients. Our Behavioral Health Resource Center offers research, insights, tools and tips to help your clients better understand employee mental health concerns. Ensuring they understand the issue will prepare them to make meaningful changes.
2. Help them partner with a disability carrier with a proven track record of supporting behavioral health. That requires taking a look at a carrier’s mental health experts and what methods they’ve developed to help employers manage these issues. Expertise in this area can positively impact your clients’ experience — and bottom line.