Demand for psychologists rises as corporate employees battle workplace stress

The maximum number of complaints or issues are regarding increasing workplace stress such as burnout, relationship management with colleagues, or power dynamic of hierarchies.

“I feel stuck and I don’t know where life is heading”, “A lot of things have been taking place”,  “I feel so tired all the time”, are among the myriad queries mental health service provider Wari has received from corporate employees in the last six months.

And it's not just one platform! In a striking shift toward holistic employee welfare, the corporate world is witnessing a surge in demand for psychologists and psychiatrists. This trend, fuelled by an increasing recognition of the critical role mental health plays in productivity and overall well-being, has led to a significant uptick in the number of employees availing themselves of mental health services.

Various companies offering these services have observed unprecedented growth, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards prioritising mental well-being in the workplace. At United We Care, a mental wellness platform, there has been a steady 10-15 percent growth in the employees availing themselves of counselling services in the last 2-3 months. There has been an increase in calls to psychiatrists which wasn’t the case before.

However, compared to the same period last year, the platform saw a 300 percent increase in expert consultations.

Similarly, the MindPeers employee wellbeing dashboard currently shows an average of 30 percent of employees using their digital therapeutic tools to preventively take care of their mental health.

Digital therapeutic tools are guides on phone or computer that are designed to help improve health and well-being. They use  apps, websites, or even virtual reality to provide support for things like managing stress, improving sleep, or dealing with mental health issues.

More employees are also actively seeking therapy, with a jump of 3 percent every month almost, especially in companies where the employee demographic is below 40 years.

Over the last three months (March to May), there has been a 10 percent jump in counselling sessions taken by employees, as compared to the period between Dec 2023 to Feb 2024 at YourDOST.

Reasons for the jump

Experts say the rise in mental health counselling among corporate employees is driven by a growing recognition of the importance of mental well-being and proactive efforts by companies to provide comprehensive support options.

This shift underscores a transformative approach in corporate culture, emphasising the need for robust mental health resources as integral to employee satisfaction and productivity.

“There has been a notable increase in employees accessing mental health services. This rise is driven by greater recognition of the importance of mental well-being and efforts by companies to offer more comprehensive support options.,” said Satjyot, a psychologist and founder of Wari.

However, there’s a catch: The maximum number of complaints or issues are regarding increasing workplace stress such as burnout, relationship management with colleagues, or power dynamic of hierarchies.

According to Ritu Mehrotra, Founder & CEO of United We Care, employee burnout is rising, people have started returning to work, and work-life balance remains challenging.

“Parenting and relationship concerns also need to be addressed to have a holistic life. Employees understand the importance of being productive and for that they understand that they need to have the right kind of support too,” she told Moneycontrol.

“We have seen an increase in anxiety related to job security in small and medium businesses or SMBs and information technology (IT). Some of the SMBs had to do layoffs over the last year and the trickle-down effect on the remaining employees’ morale is seen in the form of attrition, lower productivity or increased anxiety about their future at the workplace,” said Richa Singh, co-founder and CEO of YourDOST.

Which sectors are leading?

Data gathered by Truworth Wellness showed that IT, Manufacturing, and Advertising and Public Relations (PR) are particularly known for their high-stress environments, demanding workloads, and competitive nature, all of which contribute to the increased need for mental health support.

However, there are other interesting uses of counselling as well.  For instance, an employee from the advertising sector sought Truworth Wellness counselling to navigate the challenges of promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I) within their workplace. The individual was leading a new D&I initiative and faced resistance from colleagues who were sceptical of the changes.

“Through counselling, they were able to develop strategies to communicate the importance of D&I more effectively, manage their stress, and build resilience to handle opposition constructively,” said Rohit Chohan, co-founder and CEO of Truworth Wellness.