Just 16 per cent of U.S. employees rate their mental health as excellent, down from 30 per cent in 2024, according to a new survey by WebMD Health Services.
The survey, which polled more than 4,000 full-time employees, assessed five key areas of the employee experience: mental health and well-being, burnout, engagement, organizational care and quality of life.
Female employees rated their mental health lower than male employees, with the largest gaps reported among generation Z and millennials — 21 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. These differences may reflect life transitions more common in these age groups, such as early career demands and caregiving responsibilities. By identifying these vulnerable groups, employers can better tailor mental-health interventions to support those most at risk, the survey noted.
Read: 40% of U.S. gen Z employees report weekly bouts of depression, anxiety: survey
A quarter (25 per cent) of employees strongly agree their employer cares about their well-being, down from 30 per cent in 2024. Senior leaders were 28 per cent more likely than individual contributors to agree that their employer cares about them, highlighting gaps in experience across levels of an organization.
Employees who felt cared for by their organization were 56-per-cent more engaged and 37-per-cent less likely to report burnout compared to those who felt less supported. They were also more likely to stay with their employer and experienced higher overall well-being and life satisfaction outside of work.
The survey encouraged employers to address support gaps, tailor mental-health initiatives to vulnerable populations and ensure that well-being strategies are consistently communicated and felt across all employee groups.
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