25 Mental Health Stats Every CHRO and Benefits Leader Should Know

In 2025, mental health benefits are no longer a competitive edge—they're an expectation. Yet, despite increasing investment, most programs fall short on access, engagement, and outcomes.

To design a mental health strategy that truly supports your workforce—and your business—you need data you can act on.

Here are 25 of the most important mental health stats, sourced from Spring Health research and the broader industry, to help you strengthen your benefits design, demonstrate ROI, and close the care gap.

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Mental health access and utilization stats

These stats show a persistent—and costly—disconnect between what employers offer and what employees can actually use.

• 22.8% of U.S. adults experience a mental health illness
• 35% of employees say uncertainty about effectiveness stops them from accessing mental healthcare
• 35% of employees say high cost stops them from accessing mental healthcare
• 74% of employees say their mental health benefits only moderately support their needs
• 44% of employees are more stressed now than they were five years ago

Employee burnout and stress stats

Employee burnout is not episodic—it's structural, and it's driving turnover, absenteeism, and disengagement.

• 65% of U.S. employees report experiencing burnout
• 81% of U.S. retail workers feel burned out
• 67% of managers admit to struggling with heavy workloads
• 56% of employees cited financial pressure as a reason why they are more stressed than they were five years ago
• 300% increase in mental health–related leaves of absence since 2017
• 47% of employees on leave of absence cite mental health challenges as a primary reason
• $322 billion in lost productivity globally each year due to burnout

Mental health engagement and EAP stats

Traditional EAPs often fail to deliver timely, trusted care. These stats show why it’s time to evolve beyond outdated models.

• Only 30% of employees say traditional EAPs are ideal
• Only 55% of employees say they are very or extremely likely to use the offerings available to them
• Only 38% of employees are comfortable seeking help from their employer for a mental health issue
• Frontline and sandwich generation workers are among the least likely to engage with mental health benefits

Mental health ROI and productivity stats

Leaders are being asked to prove ROI—and the data shows it’s not only possible, but substantial when done right.

• $47.6 billion/year: Cost to U.S. employers due to untreated mental illness
• $8.9 trillion is lost in global GDP due to low engagement
• 30% gross reduction in physical health costs for organizations that use Spring Health
• 1.9x ROI for organizations that use Spring Health
• 3x ROI guaranteed by Year 3 for organizations with Spring Health

Equity, inclusion, and global care stats

Modern mental health solutions must serve diverse, global, and often overlooked populations.

• 73% of employers say they need culturally responsive mental health care
• 83% of global companies assessed ranked in the bottom two tiers of mental health performance
• 75% of rural U.S. counties have no mental health providers or fewer than 50 per 100,000 people
• More than half of customer-facing employees have faced discrimination and bias

Final thoughts for benefits leaders

Mental health benefits aren’t working as intended—yet the solutions are within reach. These 25 stats tell a story of:

• Widespread access and engagement barriers
• Rising burnout and medical leaves
• High financial and productivity costs
• Proven ROI from data-driven, precision care models

If you’re asking whether your current program is working, start here:

• Are we delivering results or simply offering access?
• Are our highest-risk employees actually getting care?
• Are we measuring clinical outcomes or just utilization?

If not, it’s time to rethink the status quo.