Mental Health Leaves of Absence Continue to Proliferate Among U.S. Workers According to New ComPsych Data

Aug 1, 2024

CHICAGO - (Aug. 1, 2024) - ComPsych^® Corporation, the world's largest provider of mental health and absence management services, today released new data that shows mental health related leaves continue to skyrocket among U.S. workers. A sample analysis of ComPsych's absence book of business, which covers more than six million people, found that in the first quarter of 2024, more than one in ten (11%) of all leaves of absence were due to mental health. This represents a 22% increase in mental health leaves versus those taken in the first quarter of 2023. This trend is being driven by female workers, who accounted for 69% of all mental health leaves of absence in 2023, and 71% of all mental health leaves in the first quarter of 2024.

"There is a growing mental health crisis among female workers," said Dr. Jennifer Birdsall, Clinical Director of ComPsych. "Working women - especially moms and other caregivers - often neglect their self-care until they hit the point of being so burnout they need to take a leave of absence. The more organizations can support resiliency-building, teaching self-care and prioritizing work life balance before things escalate into significant symptoms with functional impacts, the better. This is where the continuum of care, which includes prevention, comes into play."

"We know that investing in employee mental health upfront pays dividends - with happier, healthier teams and reduced absenteeism," continued Dr. Birdsall. "Employers need to invest in mental well-being strategies that span the continuum of care while arming their teams with knowledge about the support that is available. Trainings - for managers in particular - about how to discuss mental health and how to identify team members who could benefit from services is hugely important. This makes it possible for a person to get the help they need earlier, potentially resolving the challenge they're facing before a leave of absence is necessary."

In total, more Americans took mental health related leaves of absence in the first quarter of the year than those for accidents, cancer, COVID-19, heart disease, and heart attack, combined. Previous ComPsych data has shown that mental health related leaves of absence have exploded since the pandemic, increasing 300% from 2017 to 2023, and 33% in 2023 alone.

For more information on ComPsych Corporation and its absence management and FMLA administration services, please visit www.compsych.com.

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