Mental health–related leaves of absence are on the rise in America. A new report from Lyra Health says that 65 percent of HR and benefits managers have seen this increase and traditional approaches are no longer doing the trick.
“We’re seeing the same kind of inflection point that reshaped the industry a decade ago,” said Joe Grasso, Ph.D., vice president of workforce transformation at Lyra Health. “Back then, the focus was on replacing traditional EAPs [employee assistance plans] with more comprehensive care. Now employers are emphasizing prevention, sustainable work design, and specialized care—while equipping workforces with the skills and support to adapt to the future of work.”
Conditions such as severe anxiety, depression, and trauma are up 88 percent year-over-year, while substance-abuse cases are 26 percent higher. Of those surveyed, 7 in 10 say mental health challenges are affecting employees’ ability to do their jobs.
“The level of pressure employees are under right now is unprecedented,” notes Smita Das, vice president of psychiatry and complex care at Lyra Health. “We’re facing stressors like economic uncertainty, social unrest, and anxiety around AI. For many, it’s simply not sustainable.”
Nearly 9 in 10 benefits leaders say their teams are expected to respond to mental health crises without adequate training. This gap between strategy and readiness puts both employees and organizations at risk. To close it, leaders are investing in manager training, rapid response protocols, and on-demand access to clinical care.
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From: BenefitsPRO
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