As the 2024 benefits renewal season approaches, a new report sheds light on the complex landscape of employee mental health, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for organizations. The April 2024 TELUS Mental Health Index for the United States reveals a workforce grappling with exhaustion, burnout and motivational hurdles. Yet, amidst these struggles, the data also uncovers intriguing trends, particularly surrounding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the offering a glimpse into the evolving nature of worker wellbeing.

The TELUS Mental Health Index shows an overall score of 71.0 out of 100, indicating that many employees are experiencing ongoing stress and mental health challenges. Key findings from the report include:

• Exhaustion: A significant 34% of workers in the US often end their workday feeling mentally or physically exhausted.
• Burnout: Nearly half of workers show at least one indication of burnout, with 26% attributing their burnout to excessive workload.
• Motivation: Workers under 40 are two and a half times more likely than those over 50 to find it increasingly difficult to stay motivated at work.
• Gender differences: Women are 40% more likely than men to report feeling extremely burnt out.

The report also found that 35% of workers believe that AI will have a positive impact on the industry they work in. The best way to implement AI is to engage people from the start, helping them understand opportunities and provide input. With effective communication and a safe space for voicing ideas and concerns, undue anxieties are less likely, leading to more successful adoption for everyone and a reduced risk of negatively impacting the mental wellbeing and productivity of employees

Given these challenges, what can employers do to support and improve employee mental health? Here are several evidence-based strategies: