Gender and Mental Health at Work - Business in the Community

Gender and Mental Health at Work

This factsheet highlights differences between male and female employees’ experiences of mental health at work.

Business in the Community’s (BITC) 2019 Mental Health at Work: Time to Take Ownership report, in partnership with Mercer March Benefits, was informed by a YouGov panel of more than 4,000 employees. This Gender and mental health at work factsheet highlights some of the insights drawn from the research relating to differences between male and female employees and their experiences of mental health at work.

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The survey found that:

  • overall, almost two in five (39%) of employees, and 23% in the past month, have experienced poor mental health where work was a contributing factor in the past year (up from 36% in 2018). However, both of these figures increase for female employees, to 43% in the last year and 26% in the past month
  • 66% of women had suffered psychological, behavioural, or physical symptoms of mental health caused from work at some point in their life, compared to 58% of men
  • 51% of all employees feel comfortable talking about mental health problems at work. This increases to 53% of female respondents.

Calls to action

BITC urges employers to implement three calls to action. These are priority actions we believe will have the biggest impact on organisational capability to support better mental health:

  1. Create good work that enhances mental health for everyone.
  2. Acknowledge and support poor mental health, whatever the cause.
  3. Sign up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment.

About the factsheet

The Gender and mental health at work factsheet includes information on:

  • Causes for mental health inequality between the genders
  • Failures within the workplace
  • Menopause and mental health
  • Financial wellbeing
  • Recomendations for leaders
  • Additional resources

About BITC’s work on gender

Achieving a truly gender-balanced workforce means employers must recruit and progress the best talent – irrespective of gender.

The commercial imperative for realising women’s potential in the workplace is clear: gender equality enhances employee engagement, boosts productivity, meets the diverse needs of customers and suppliers, and improves brand reputation.

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Business in the Community is developing a skilled and inclusive workforce.