Almost two in five European workers are at “high risk” of mental health problems, according to a new survey. However, in Spain this figure corresponds to half of the workers.
Healthcare and technology provider TELUS Health has released its annual mental health index on the health of workers. six European countries: France, Italy, SpainPoland, Germany and the Netherlands. A survey was conducted with 500 people in each country, and people with a score below 80 were considered at risk.
The mental health score varies by country: in Spain, 48% of workers are classified as: high risk for mental health problemsIt is followed by Poland (45%) and Italy (43%). In contrast, the Netherlands has the lowest proportion of workers at high risk of mental health problems, at 24%.
“There are three main factors that really make a difference. The first is basically what’s happening in that country,” Paula Allen, global leader and vice president of research and insights at TELUS Health, told Euronews Health. he mentioned Poland’s geographical proximity to UkraineIt was occupied by Russia more than 1000 days ago.
Differences in culture and background, as well as gender, age and socioeconomic status, may also play a role: for example, women report mental health scores more than five points lower to men.
“The world you experience when you’re a woman and the world you experience when you’re a man they are different“said Allen, citing inequalities in terms of financial resources, employment and division of labor.
“There is also health inequality. We know very clearly how the health system works. Responds to men and women it’s very different,” she added, noting that women are more likely to have negative experiences with healthcare providers.
She also touched on lesser-known women’s health issues such as endometriosis, perimenopause and menopause. menopause.
Physical health and financial security affect mental well-being
The survey found that employees who reported exercising generally had better mental health scores. But more than one in 10 workers did not participate in any physical activityThis meant almost three additional working days were lost per year. Mental health scores are almost 10 points lower.
Overall, spending six or more hours a day sitting or sedentary was associated with poor mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate-intensity activity 1.3 to 2.5 hours of more intense exercise per week.
Workers no emergency savings They were also three times more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression. “It puts you in a state of anxiety. Even if it’s low-level chronic anxiety, it puts you in a state of anxiety. So it’s interesting that we found that the most important type of factor (for a poor mental health score) was just lack of emergency savings,” Allen said.
“It’s almost impossible to achieve In this case optimal welfare. “So it’s not just about having a lower income, it’s about not having that safety net,” he said. Workers without emergency savings had a mental health score of around 42, compared to 62.
What can companies do?
Allen emphasized its important role. employers are performing Underlining that the services they provide can have a profound impact in supporting the well-being of employees. He explained that employers need to design appropriate work environments. comply with health guidelines Occupational safety and security to minimize risks to the physical and mental health of employees.
They can also take these steps: improving physical and mental health Empowering employees through initiatives such as training programs, resilience training and health coaching and integrating these frameworks into the company culture. “It really gives you such a sustainable framework, and the benefits you get as an employer increase with every step you take in that direction,” Allen said.
