Mike Temkin (@miketemkin)

New survey on Mental Health in the Workplace: “One-third of employees globally are "merely surviving" at work, with a significant rise in complex mental health conditions such as PTSD and bipolar disorder, according to Lyra Health's 2026 State of Workforce Mental Health report. … The study surveyed over 500 benefits leaders and 7,500 employees across six countries. It reveals multiple crises hitting at once, creating an environment that’s tough on HR leaders as well as the workforce. … While 95% of benefits leaders believe child and teen mental health care is accessible, employees increasingly disagree, highlighting a gap in specialized care. Meanwhile, managers are under significant strain, with 54% reporting that their role harms their mental health. … The data shows a rise of complex, severe conditions. A decade ago, most workforce mental health conversations centered on stress, anxiety and mild depression. This is the territory where EAPs and short-term therapy were designed to help. According to the study, the territory has expanded. Ten percent of the global workforce now reports a complex condition such as PTSD or bipolar disorder, a 67% increase year over year. More than one-third of employees report personal or family experience with serious conditions, including severe depression, eating disorders and substance use challenges. When those employees seek care, they run into a system built for a different level of need. According to researchers, 56% struggled to find the right level of care, 55% faced long waitlists and 54% couldn’t find a specialist or specialty program. … Researchers found that nearly seven in 10 benefits leaders say employee mental health challenges significantly hurt performance over the past year, and 65% report more mental health–related disability leave. Costs that were once hard to quantify are now visible in lost productivity and rising leave claims.” From the article "Why are so many employees struggling to access mental healthcare?" posted October 6, 2025, on HR Executive Magazine by Tom Starner - U.S. journalist and on CHRO SmartBrief on March 25, 2026, by Nina Snyder - U.S. journalist, editor, author. For more Thoiughts And Observations about Mental Health and the Workplace go to https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thoughts-observations-mental-health-mike-temkin/