Gen Z and Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace

Gen Z workers value mental wellness initiatives

If your workforce has a high number of Generation Z employees, then you may be interested to learn that Gen Z workers really value mental wellness initiatives in the workplace.

In a 2022 survey by Securian Financial younger workers said that it was very important for their employers to provide them with mental-wellness benefits.

Survey suggest Gen Z, more so than previous generations, want wellness benefits

73% of Generation Z employees (aged 27 and below) and 74% of millennial employees (aged 28 – 45) have utilized mental health benefits offered by their employers, the survey said. This is in contrast to the 58% of Generation X employees (aged 46 – 58) and 49% of baby boomer employees (aged 59 plus) who have used the benefits.

Attitudes towards seeking help for mental health issues are improving with each generation. Whilst older employees may still find it difficult to raise these issues and ask for help and support, younger staff will not – in fact they expect this kind of support to be there and to be visible and easily accessible.

Provide easily accessible resources

“Mental wellness benefits are crucial for every generation. But because these benefits are expected from Gen Z and millennials, employers should recognize that to attract and retain young talent, they must provide easily accessible mental wellness resources,” said Darin Reeser of Securian Financial.

Host a mental wellness seminar

Only 40% of the businesses surveyed offered webinars or seminars as a means of mental wellness support. Hosting a seminar is an accessible way to offer mental wellness support and doesn’t rely on people seeking out mental wellness services, so it can be a risk-free way for an employee to access more information. And a nutrition focussed seminar is a practical way to support your own health and take control – a lack of which often underpins depression and anxiety. 

Many people don’t make the connection between poor mental health and diet, but there is a strong link. Nutrient deficiencies can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety, and with an over reliance on processed food, this is becoming a big issue for mental health. 

Healthier deits protect against depression

Felice Jacka, Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry and Director of the Food & Mood Centre at Deakin University, focuses on links between diet, gut health and brain health.

She explains: “Extensive and consistent research tells us that healthier diets protect against depression. Given that depression is the leading cause of global disability, this is critical to understand. Indeed, these links are seen after taking into account important factors that can affect both diet and mental health, such as education and income, other health behaviours and body weight. More recently, evidence from randomised controlled trials tells us that helping people with depression to improve the quality of their diets can have a substantial benefit to their mental health and functioning.”

Mental Wellness seminars on offer from Vital Health Nutrition

In our Mental Wellness: Eating for Great Mental Health seminar we share the role of macro and micronutrients in supporting good mental health. We explain the impact that a poor diet can have on brain function and suggest simple ways that attendees can improve their mental health through what and how they eat, focussing on key nutrients, gut health and lifestyle factors. 

Contact us now to book this important seminar and give your employees a broader range of mental wellness services to access.