TELUS Mental Health Index: Nearly half of Kiwis do not have trusted workplace relationships leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness

TUESDAY 19TH MARCH 2024, AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND - Today, TELUS Health released its TELUS Mental Health Index (“the Index”) with reports that examine the mental health of employed people in New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Europe. The New Zealand report highlights that nearly half of workers (44 per cent) in New Zealand do not have trusted workplace relationships. Lack of trusted relationships can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness that can also cause negative impacts on physical and mental health. Further, 41 per cent of workers in New Zealand do not perceive, or are unsure, that harassment, bullying, unhealthy conflict, and other harmful behaviours are quickly and fairly resolved in their workplace.

“The lack of trusting workplace relationships is having a significant negative impact on workers’ mental wellbeing,” said Julie Cressey, General Manager New Zealand, TELUS Health. “The issue of workplace isolation is even more prominent in younger workers who lack trusted relationships and people at work they can be their true selves with. Combine this with the recent strains of inflation and housing unaffordability – it all adds to the difficulties faced by this cohort. These factors are particularly challenging for younger workers who may have limited savings early in their careers, making it harder for them to cope with these stressors.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness to be a pressing global threat, with the effects of isolation and loneliness now being recognized and compared to well-known health risks such as smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. In fact, the US surgeon general has said that its mortality effects are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Efforts to combat the negative impacts of isolation and loneliness on employee health and productivity not only improve wellbeing but also have financial benefits for employers.

The TELUS Mental Health Index also found:

• Workers under 40 are twice as likely as workers over 50 to lack trusted personal relationships, and more than 50 per cent more likely than workers over 50 to lack trusted workplace relationships.

• Workers not feeling valued and respected by their colleagues and workers reporting that their workplace is unsupportive are twice as likely to report that their mental health adversely affects their productivity at work.

• More than one in three (35 per cent) indicate that they feel they can not speak up at work without fear of humiliation or punishment.

• Twenty per cent of workers rate the mental health benefits and services provided by their employer as 2 or 1 out of 5 (poor); this group has mental health scores at least 14 points lower than workers rating 4 or 5 (excellent), and at least nine points lower than the national average (59.6).

In January 2024, the mental health scores of workers in various regions were:

• New Zealand: 59.6

• Australia: 63.1

• Singapore: 62.6

• United Kingdom: 64.7

• Europe: 62.0

• United States: 70.7

• Canada: 63.5

The lowest mental health scores recorded were in Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki (56.1),
Wellington (57.3), and Otago and Southland (57.3). The regions with the highest mental health scores were Waikato (61.2), followed by Auckland (61.0), and Bay of Plenty (60.3).

The TELUS Mental Health Index is based on a response scoring system that then turns individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels of mental health.

“The TELUS Mental Health Index depicts noteworthy issues for Kiwi businesses,” said Paula Allen, Global Leader, Research & Client Insights, TELUS Health. Whether there is legislation or not, the evidence is clear that psychological safety in the workplace is good for employee health and wellbeing, as well as business productivity. Organizations would do well to focus on managing psychological risk and supporting a healthy culture in addition to offering and communicating supports such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and Wellbeing Programs for individuals and teams."

The January TELUS Mental Health Index includes additional findings related to key psycho-social risks in the workplace, and mental health scores related to industry and other demographics. Read the full New Zealand TELUS Mental Health Index here.

Note to Editors
For further information on the TELUS Mental Health Index, or to find out more about the methodology, please refer to the MHI New Zealand update.

About the TELUS Mental Health Index
The data for the TELUS Health Mental Health Index was collected through an online survey from January 13, 2024 to January 22, 2024 with 3,000 respondents. All respondents reside in New Zealand and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflects this population.

About TELUS Health
TELUS Health is a global healthcare leader providing comprehensive primary and preventive care services and solutions to improve physical, mental and financial wellbeing for employees and families worldwide. With our advanced 6nology and dedicated team members, including more than 100,000 compassionate health professionals, we are covering more than 70 million lives in 160 countries. We are on a mission to become the most trusted wellbeing company in the world by building the healthiest communities and workplaces on the planet through simplifying access to care and improving the flow of information between care providers, insurers, employers and individuals. For more information please visit: www.telushealth.com.

Media Contact:
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