New data shows global instability is hurting employee mental health—and employees are turning to their workplaces for support. Here’s what leaders can do to help.
When HR leaders consider what’s behind rising stress and burnout in their organizations, they assess the usual culprits—internal factors like high workloads, pressure to perform, or unclear expectations.
But what can leaders do when one of the biggest drivers of distress isn’t internal—or even personal?
New research from Modern Health dives into the external, societal-level shifts that employees say are taking a toll on their mental health—and in no small way. The report found:
HR leaders face similar experiences in their own lives: It can be a challenge to fully tune into day-to-day work and routines when the world outside their organization feels uncertain.
So, while tackling the stress that comes with political division, economic volatility, and global unrest may feel new on a workforce level, the distress—on a personal level—may not be all that surprising.
“Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s shaped by the world around us. Employees aren’t just dealing with deadlines and team dynamics; they’re managing economic uncertainty, social unrest, and the very real impact of global political instability. The question isn’t whether this affects the workplace—it’s whether employers will acknowledge it and take action.”
– Dr. Mary Odafe, Clinical Psychologist, Modern Health
For decades, employers have operated under the assumption that politics and work should stay separate. That’s no longer realistic—or helpful.
The 24-hour news cycle and constant social media access combined with major political decisions and global events simply don’t allow for clear delineations between what matters on and off the clock.
Related stress is filtering into the workday in a significant way, influencing morale, culture, and even career decisions.
Modern Health’s research finds:
The mental health toll can be especially acute for employees with marginalized identities. Political decisions may directly affect their safety, rights, and well-being, deepening feelings of anxiety and helplessness.
As clinical psychologist Emma Taylor shares in a virtual session, Coping with Political Uncertainty, “[Political uncertainty] presses on existing wounds, old scars, knowledge that we are not safe in the world in certain ways.”
As the emotional strain of global instability grows, employees are looking beyond elected leaders for support: They’re turning to their employers. And they’re not asking for policy positions or political statements.
Employees are asking for mental health resources that help them cope.
This shift in expectation presents a pivotal opportunity for employers.
When organizations recognize the emotional toll of the world outside—and offer support to help employees navigate it—they build trust, loyalty, and resilience.
The bottom line: Political and economic instability aren’t just societal issues anymore—they’re deeply personal, deeply human, and showing up at work in profound ways.
Employers have a unique opportunity to help—not by taking sides, but by supporting people.
Want to dive deeper into what’s driving today’s workplace mental health challenges—and how to respond? Modern Health’s latest research report explores employee sentiments on:
Plus, gain strategic insights into how people leaders can respond to mental health trends.
Modern Health is the comprehensive mental wellness platform that combines the WHO well-being assessment, self-service wellness kits, an international network of certified coaches, and licensed therapists available in 80+ languages all in a single app. Modern Health empowers employers to lead the charge in acknowledging that mental health is just as important as physical health, de-stigmatizing the conversation, and increasing accessibility of mental health services for all.
