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If the first weeks of 2025 are any indication, employee mental health will be a trending topic all year. A new report from Unmind, a leader in workplace mental health solutions, highlights three pivotal trends shaping workplace mental health for the future: AI-driven mental health solutions, the evolution of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and the normalization of therapy and coaching at work.
“We’re seeing unprecedented innovation in workplace mental health, driven by advancements in technology, shifting employee expectations, and the growing recognition that mental wellbeing is essential for business success,” Dr. Nick Taylor, Unmind’s CEO and co-founder, said in a statement. “These trends highlight the tools and strategies organizations must adopt to support their people and thrive in a competitive and rapidly evolving landscape.”
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Unmind’s fourth annual report, titled 2025 Workplace Mental Health Trends, doubles as a 36-page guidebook and is based on a survey of 5,000 employees, HR leaders, and executives across the United States and United Kingdom. The findings are supplemented by insights from academics, practitioners, and industry experts.
Here are more details on the report’s three key trends:
1. Artificial intelligence is powering the full spectrum of mental health support.
AI is addressing both scalability and accessibility challenges, helping organizations bridge gaps in overstretched mental health systems and complementing human-led care with tools like wellbeing prompts, empathy training, and real-time coaching, according to the report. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of respondents consider AI a significant or very significant factor in addressing mental health needs at work, while 77% are open to using AI-powered tools, such as virtual coaches, for workplace conflict resolution.
2. EAPs are getting a much-needed upgrade.
They were introduced almost 80 years ago, but EAPs still struggle to meet modern workplace needs, the report found. Almost half (45%) of employees are unaware of their company’s EAP, 38% find existing services irrelevant, and 63% believe AI could replace traditional therapy for most employees by 2030. Future-ready EAPs must embrace digital transformation — integrating prevention, early intervention, and responsive care into seamless, user-friendly platforms that reflect today’s digital-first culture, Unmind officials said.
3. Therapy and coaching are becoming workplace essentials.
This is happening as the stigma around mental health diminishes, according to the report. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents find free therapy or coaching extremely or very valuable, and 85% believe these services should be a priority for organizations. Younger generations are leading this shift. While more than half of older workers viewed stigma as a barrier, only 37% of workers ages 18 to 24 reported the same. Therapy is increasingly seen as a proactive tool for personal growth, not just crisis resolution, Unmind officials said.
“There is still time to adjust and prepare for the dramatic changes affecting the world of work and how we can support mental health while there,” the report notes. “Those companies that take swift action now will be the ones that set themselves and their organizations up for success in the decades ahead.”
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