HCL Healthcare, an employer-health provider in India, has published findings from a large-scale study titled Demystifying Mental Health at the Workplace, analysing more than 4,200 emotional-wellness consultations across five major Indian employers.
The study highlights pervasive emotional distress and calls for strategic, systemic reform to make workplace well-being a business imperative.
Key findings
- 84 per cent of employees reported persistent low mood or depressive thoughts.
- 59 per cent exhibited symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety.
- 50 per cent sleep less than seven hours a night; 1 in 5 report poor sleep quality.
- Employees under 25 are especially vulnerable: 21 per cent reported suicidal ideation.
- Women accounted for 54 per cent of consultations; 85 per cent of consultations were from employees under 40.
“These findings signal a structural challenge, not an individual failing,” said Dr Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Fortis National Mental Health Program and Adayu, a Fortis Group company. “Organisations must adopt preventive mental-health approaches that combine leadership commitment, open dialogue and accessible psychological first-aid to build resilience and productivity.”
The study identifies five principal emotional stressors: self-esteem and overthinking (34 per cent), relationship and family stress (27 per cent), pre-existing mental-health conditions (18 per cent), career-related stress (14 per cent), and chronic-illness related distress (5 per cent). Notably, more than 60 per cent of stressors are personal and relationship-based rather than purely work-related, underscoring the need for a holistic employer response.
A strategic roadmap
“Emotional health is central to organisational performance,” said Shikhar Malhotra, Director, HCL Corporation and CEO, HCL Healthcare. “Our research shows preventive, timely emotional-health interventions can yield up to a 2.5× ROI through lower absenteeism, higher productivity and improved retention. But impact requires sustained, high-quality services, both digital and on-site, backed by data and integrated into business processes.”
The report recommends an integrated approach combining policy, practice and partnerships: normalise mental-health conversations through leadership and peer networks; ensure seamless access via on-site clinics and 24/7 digital platforms; equip managers with mental-health literacy and first-aid skills; and apply evidence-based frameworks such as the Job Demands-Resources model to design interventions.
The study endorses a hybrid dual-access model that marries the human reassurance of on-site care with the privacy and immediacy of digital tools. Delivering this model at scale requires partnering with organisations that can integrate clinical rigour, digital capability and on-site presence, so employee well-being is woven into the architecture of business strategy.
Source – https://www.healthcareradius.in/awareness-and-promotion/mental-health