Older employees are struggling to maintain their mental health as COVID persists

A return to pre-COVID norms feels more distant than ever for many employees.

According to the most recent Mental Health Index by Total Brain and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, feelings of anxiety increased 94% from June to July, and incidences of PTSD have spiked 83% over the past six months.

While employees of all ages are struggling to maintain good mental health, workers aged 40-59 saw the highest increases in stress, anxiety and feelings of negativity, compared to July’s data. These workers cited return to work and back to school plans as the main drivers of their fears.

“Unfortunately, what seemed like the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel has now dimmed,” Colleen McHugh, executive vice president of the American Health Policy Institute, said in a release. “These results demonstrate that the mental health crisis related to the pandemic continues, and employees, particularly managers, need extra support to cope with the continued stress of the pandemic.”

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As the delta variant sweeps across the U.S. and employers grapple with how and if employees should return to the office, the uncertainty is taking its toll. This chronic stress can lead to more serious mental health conditions like anxiety and depressive disorders, addiction issues and PTSD, if not addressed.

Ninety-five percent of employers have implemented supportive programs and benefits to provide support for these mental health concerns, according to Fidelity and the Business Group on Health. However, less than half of employees say they have considered seeking help, a Vida Health survey found.

Read more: How to help employees manage fresh stress as COVID spikes

To bridge this gap, employers need to tap into the lessons learned over the past year and a half, speak openly about the importance of mental health and take action.

“The good news is that we have learned much since March 2020 and we know what is needed to support the mental health of our employees,” Matthew Resteghini, chief marketing officer of Total Brain, said in the release. “Employers have the opportunity to put into action important lessons learned — candid conversations, empathetic leadership, flexibility, transparent and frequent communications and robust mental health offerings that meet the needs of diverse employee populations. The success of their employees and their businesses depend on it.”

Early intervention is key, says Russell Glass, CEO and founder of mental health platform, Ginger. Poor mental health can have long-lasting impacts on employee productivity, as well as their physical health.

“The earlier you get support in your journey, right before it's clinical, before it's acute, the easier it is to resolve and self-manage your mental health,” Glass says. “The goal is ultimately, can we get society to the point where everybody understands the self care routines that work for mental health in the same way that everybody understands that exercise is important for physical health.”