An increasing number of North American workers are struggling to meet their basic needs. Nearly one-third of non-clinical cases managed by ComPsych in 2023 in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico were related to help with government programs for such needs.

"We've increasingly heard from our customers — especially those in industries like retail, manufacturing and foodservice — that it's become harder and harder for their workers to cover the cost of their basic needs like housing, utilities, medical care, transportation and food," said Richard A. Chaifetz, Ph.D., founder, CEO and chair of the employee mental health services provider. "Needless to say, this can be a tremendous source of stress and anxiety. Our holistic approach to care helps employees navigate the mental distress caused by these challenges as well as the root causes, connecting them to the resources they need to find solutions."

These findings are based on a sample analysis of more than 25,000 cases in 2023 and represent a 27% increase in government assistance since 2019. This points to both a significant increase in unmet basic needs since the onset of the pandemic and persistent inflation.