Workers Value Therapy, but Find It More Intensive Than Needed
A recent survey indicates that while employees find therapy valuable, a majority perceive it as more intensive than necessary. This presents an opportunity for employers to offer more tailored support.
A survey of over 2,000 employees, conducted by mental health services provider Modern Health, reveals a significant gap between employee needs and the therapeutic support offered. While 88 percent of employees found company-provided or covered therapy valuable and effective for achieving health goals, 60 percent felt the treatment was more intensive than what they required.
According to the survey, 60 percent of respondents sought therapy simply to discuss everyday stress, but received more intensive treatment instead. Furthermore, 76 percent believe that workplace pressures and challenges are now default-treated as mental health and medical problems. Up to 51 percent of employees sought therapy or coaching in response to career doubts or pressures, rather than discussing them with their managers.
The findings suggest that employers can optimize their healthcare spending by refining therapeutic support options. Many employees felt pressured to seek therapy even when unsure of its necessity. A substantial 58 percent continued sessions after achieving their set goals, and 37 percent admitted to exaggerating symptoms to gain more perceived value from appointments.
This situation may negatively impact the return on employers' healthcare investments. Companies could benefit from tailoring their support offerings to better address employees' everyday stress and workplace challenges, potentially leading to more cost-effective and genuinely beneficial outcomes for staff.