Australia’s Mental Health Battle: Pressures in the Workplace

Many Australians have recently returning to work for a new year. An ACA report has revealed the toll the last two years – Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters – has had on Australians, particularly in the workplace.

PRESSURES IN THE WORKPLACE

Jugging act: For 17% of Australians, the pressure of juggling work and home responsibilities has fuelled a decline in their mental health.

Mental toll of workplace stress: Over a third of Australians (36%) say business or workplace stress negatively impacted their mental health over the past two years of pandemic life.

Pandemic pressures: More than one in five Australians (21%) sought professional help to deal with business or workplace pressures over the past two years.

Declining job security: For more than a quarter (26%) of Australians, declining job security throughout this time negatively impacted their mental health.

Impact of adapting: Close to a third (30%) of Australians attribute ‘adapting’ how they did their job or delivered services to a decline in their mental health.

Workplace loss: For 14%, losing their job or being made redundant fuelled a decline in their mental health.

Essential workers: For one in five (20%) of Australians, being an essential worker on the front lines of the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health.

Pandemic resignation: One in five (20%) Australians quit their jobs due to the elevated stressors and pressures of the past two years; for 15% the whole experience negatively impacted their mental health.

This data has been released as part of the National Regional Check In, which canvasses the perspectives and experiences of Australians across each State and Territory. Research was conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of the Australian Counselling Association in 2022. The research surveyed 2009 Australians aged 18+ with an equal representation of those living in metro and non-metro (rural, regional and remote) areas.