Modern Health’s new report finds 75% of employees struggle with low mood and 74% want mental health resources specifically for global political turmoil
Just two months into 2025, nearly half of employees say life was easier during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a resounding 81% believe employees need more mental health benefits
According to a new report from Modern Health, a leading global workplace mental health platform, the American workforce is grappling with surging levels of stress, low mood, and seeking more workplace mental health benefits. In a survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees commissioned to understand the state of mental health across America’s workforce at the start of 2025, 75% report experiencing some form of low mood, largely driven by politics and current events, and 74% say they want mental health resources specifically addressing global political turmoil. Alarmingly, almost half of respondents say life was easier during the COVID-19 pandemic than it is now—just two months into 2025.
“The findings of our new report are crystal clear: American employees are struggling with their mental health, with global political turmoil and current events taking a particularly dire toll, and it’s detrimental to how employees are showing up in the workplace,” said Alyson Watson, Founder, and CEO of Modern Health. “These findings underscore a critical warning for employers: employees and managers are signaling an urgent need for more genuine mental health support, and they’re willing to walk away if they don’t get it. Employers have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to create environments that foster resilience, engagement, and long-term success.”
Global Political Turmoil Is Fueling Negative Mental Health
Half of employed Americans are pessimistic about the country’s direction—rising to 59% among female employees and 56% among Gen Z. Current events top the list of negative mental health drivers, even outpacing crime and finances. Nearly all workers (96%) report following at least one recent news story about global political or economic turmoil, citing FAA changes, DOGE government budget cuts, and data breaches as most harmful to their mental health.
Global political turmoil, in particular, is stoking workplace mental health challenges. Seventy-one percent of employees believe political tensions are making it harder to foster a positive workplace culture, and an even higher number (74%) say political uncertainty can lead to more burnout at work. A significant portion (61%) of Gen Z employees are even questioning their career path due to the current global political climate’s impact on their mental health.
Employees battling this political turmoil say they would find relief through workplace support. In fact, a large majority of respondents (68%) believe anxiety caused by the current global political environment could be mitigated through mental health benefits at work.
Five Years After COVID-19, Workplace Mental Health Challenges Persist
The report reveals the sobering reality that, even five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, full-time employees are still struggling with mental health challenges. For Gen Z respondents, 58% say life was easier during the pandemic than in early 2025, and 54% report that their mental health has never really recovered since the pandemic. Meanwhile, only 16% of those surveyed say their workplace’s current level of mental health support is better now than five years ago, and 58% believe that the pandemic exposed critical gaps in their workplace’s mental health support that have yet to be addressed.
“Despite hopes that the worst of the pandemic’s toll on workplace mental health is behind us, these latest findings reveal that its fallout is very much ongoing,” said Dr. Neha Chaudhary, Chief Medical Officer at Modern Health. “With such a majority reporting their mental health has never fully recovered, these insights offer a powerful call to action: employers who want to drive long-term success in today’s competitive market should prioritize an authentic and supportive culture in order to enhance workforce resilience, boost productivity, and retain employees.”
Despite Surges in Workplace Stress, Support Is Inadequate and Untrusted
The new report reveals that workplace stressors exacerbate mental health challenges, with 62% feeling pressured to work through burnout or mental health struggles, 61% concerned that their employer encourages productivity at the expense of personal well-being, and a notable 48% stating the post-pandemic “do more with less” mentality has harmed their mental health.
Contrarily, the report finds that workplace mental benefits are woefully inadequate. Only 36% of employees feel their employer provides adequate mental health coverage, and a resounding 81% believe employees need more mental health benefits. In fact, a large majority of employees (66%) would actively utilize additional mental health resources if offered. Employers who ignore these warning signs may lose staff, with 38% of respondents reporting they’re less likely to stay at their current job due to a lack of mental health resources—a sentiment that rises to 60% among Gen Z employees.
The report also reveals a stark reality: the mental health support provided by employers is not only inadequate but also widely distrusted. An extraordinary 88% of employees want a workplace culture that encourages employees to use mental health resources, yet only 41% feel that their employer truly values their well-being, with 58% saying their employer is just performative when talking about mental health. Alarmingly, 58% believe their employers’ conversations about mental health are insincere, with half of respondents admitting they’d feel safer talking to an AI chatbot about their mental health than their HR department.
“Employees take their cues from leadership. If leaders and managers don’t visibly prioritize their own mental health, employees won’t believe it’s truly acceptable to do so. The most powerful culture shift happens not through organization-wide policy, but through example,” Chaudhary adds.
Managers Under Pressure: The Hidden Mental Health Crisis In Leadership
These insights spotlight a growing crisis among workplace managers. A staggering 71% of non-managers now find the prospect of becoming a manager less appealing due to the current work environment, while 77% of current managers report that their role is harder than ever.
Adding to the strain, 60% of managers report feeling a growing expectation to provide mental health support and “play the role of therapist” for their team—even though only 23% feel adequately equipped to handle employee mental health challenges. This disconnect not only jeopardizes managerial well-being but also undermines the support employees desperately need.
To learn more, download the full report here.
