Blue Monday 2025 – Anxiety, depressive and panic disorders are the most requested mental health services in the workplace

Blue Monday 20 January 2025

The most common mental health requests at work are anxiety, depressive and panic disorders

International SOS, a leading provider of health and security services, urges organisations to be proactive in addressing mental health issues of their employees.

International SOS identified three of the most common mental health requests that it received over the last three years from workers in various sectors. ² This includes support and assistance for

1. Anxiety Disorder: Extreme and intense fear and distress.
2. Depressive Disorder:mental illness characterized by feelings of persistent sadness, emptiness or loss of interest. It can have a significant impact on an employee’s emotional state, their behaviour and even their physical health.
3. Panic disorder : a condition where an employee experiences repeated and unexpected panic attacks, and is constantly worried about the next attack.

Research shows that employment has a greater impact on mental health outcomes than traditional psychiatric care alone. Researchers have found that employment has a greater impact on mental health than traditional psychiatric treatment alone. When an employee is under constant stress at work, anxiety hormones are elevated. The sustained pressure may leave employees exhausted and fatigued, and ultimately contribute to burnout. Mental health conditions, without adequate support, can negatively impact an employee’s ability to succeed in the workplace, their self-confidence and job satisfaction.

Dr Rodrigo Rodriguez Fernandez, Global Health Advisor for Wellness and Mental Health at International SOS comments: “January and the beginning of a new calendar year can be particularly challenging times for many. Mental health and wellbeing can be affected by the post-holiday slump, returning to work, and harsh winter weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. Blue Monday is a great opportunity for organizations to address mental health issues for the coming year and create a culture of wellness that goes beyond just this one day.

The workplace stress and anxiety rates are high, with around 15% of the global working-age population suffering from mental illness. Around 15% of working-age people worldwide suffer from mental illness.

International SOS provides five tips for organizations to implement proactive strategies in order to reduce stress and anxiety among employees:

1. 
   SUPPORT
   

Create a culture of support and a positive work environment. Encourage open communication in the workplace. Encourage employees to talk about their stress and create a space where they can express their concerns without being judged or facing repercussions.

1. 
   BALANCE
   

Encourage work-life integration and flexible work arrangements.Consider changing the time –off policy to accommodate mental health needs of employees. Encourage employees to set boundaries between their work and private lives and encourage them to take breaks.

1. 
   ASSESS
   

Regularly conduct stress assessments.Regularly assess stress levels in the organization through surveys, feedback sessions and health screenings. Utilize the collected data to identify stressors, and then implement targeted interventions.

1. 
   ASSIST
   

Provide Employee Assistance Programmes: Make mental health resources easily accessible, such as workshops on stress management, counselling services, and mental health hotlines.

1. 
   TRAIN
   

Provide managers with training in mental health first aid: train managers to recognize signs of distress among employees and to offer them initial support.

The International SOS Foundation is hosting a Workforce Wellbeing Training Course on 20-21st January. The course provides individuals and leaders who are responsible for the wellbeing of their organisations with the necessary competencies to plan, design and implement best-in class programmes.

The International SOS Group of Companies: 40 Years of Saving Lives

International SOS Group of Companies saves lives and protects your global workforce against health and security threats. We deliver tailored health, security risk and wellbeing solutions wherever you are to boost your productivity and growth. We provide immediate assistance in the event of severe weather, epidemics, or security incidents. This gives you peace of mind. Our medical and security experts, using innovative technology, focus on prevention. We provide real-time insights, and deliver quality on the ground. We protect your reputation and people as well as your organisation. We also support your reporting requirements for compliance. We help organisations fulfil their duty of care responsibilities while also empowering resilience, continuity and sustainability.

The International SOS Group was founded in 1985 and has saved lives for over 40 years. Over 9,000 organisations trust the International SOS Group, which has its headquarters in London and Singapore. The majority of Fortune Global 500 companies are included. This includes mid-sized enterprises, government, educational institutions and NGOs. Nearly 12,000 multicultural security, medical and logistics experts, as well as digital experts, are available 24/7 to offer support & assistance in over 1,200 locations across 90 countries. International SOS staff speak over 100 languages in our offices, clinics and assistance centres.

To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: https://www.internationalsos.com/

1. 
   _{World Mental Health Day 2024}
   
2. 
   _{International SOS Assistance Tracker (2022-2204)}
   
3. 
   _{How business can lead a global response to the mental health crisis (2024)}
4. 
   _{Mental Health at Work (2024)}
5. 
   _{Stress Prevention at Work Checkpoints. Stress Prevention at Work Checkpoints}
   

The original version of this article, Blue Monday 2025: Top mental health requests at work, was first published on Human Resources News.