Australian workers not fully utilising mental health support

Many employees are not sufficiently utilising mental health resources available in their workplaces, according to a recent report by ELMO.

The ELMO Employee Sentiment Index (ESI), covering the period from April to June 2024, surveyed over 1,000 Australian workers and revealed significant gaps in the awareness and utilisation of mental health support services offered by employers. The report noted that although 84% of employees believe their organisation provides mental health resources, only 56% feel comfortable accessing them.

The report highlighted that 39% of employees are unaware of how to access these resources, a concern given the high stress and pressure experienced by workers. Factors such as excessive workload or insufficient resources, reported by 20% of respondents, and challenges in disconnecting from work, noted by 19%, were identified as primary contributors to workplace stress.

Joseph Lyons, Chief Executive Officer of ELMO Software, remarked on the current state of employee wellbeing. "Employee wellbeing is going through a revolution, with higher quality, free and confidential resources available for workers. However, with 39% still not knowing how to access them and only just over half feeling comfortable to do so, there is a huge opportunity for companies to increase employee adoption through better accessibility and improved communication," Lyons stated.

New psychosocial legislation in Australia requires employers to take more proactive measures to protect their employees' psychological health, underscoring the need for improved access and communication regarding mental health resources.

Lyons commented on the perception challenges faced by Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), suggesting that they are often seen as a "tick box" obligation for businesses. He noted the necessity for organisations to move beyond these traditional programs: "In today's working environment, businesses need to go above and beyond the EAP. It's imperative to deliver additional wellbeing resources that cater to the modern worker. That means content that can be accessed confidentially from anywhere, at any time, and delivered in a way that resonates with employees, usually through short, concise video learning."

The company is introducing ELMOHR, a new application designed to improve the accessibility of wellbeing and development resources, particularly aimed at their clients' workforce, which includes numerous deskless workers. Lyons highlighted the flexibility offered by the mobile-optimized app: "Over two thirds of ELMO customers prefer to consume content via mobile so we've worked hard to ensure an optimal mobile experience, providing quality information at their fingertips."

Addressing mental health needs amid evolving workplace challenges, Lyons emphasised the role of targeted mental health support as Australians confront job security issues, changes in workplace culture due to the pandemic, and rising burnout rates. "We are committed to driving real change and ensure mental health resources are readily accessible and confidential for our customers," he noted. "That's why we've partnered with Lifeline, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and EQ Minds to launch our exclusive 'Your Mind Matters' content, a series of curated videos designed to help support the wellbeing our customers' employees."