Only one in four managers have sufficient training to support mental health conversations in the workplace
Arlington, Va., March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Employees are seeking more mental health resources and training at work as they experience increased levels of stress, according to a poll released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The data shows widespread stress and burnout among employees, with one in four reporting they quit their job because of the impact on their mental health.
“We’re seeing an increasing trend of stress among American workers, but we’re also seeing how the right mental health support can make a difference,” said NAMI Executive Director Daniel H. Gilson Jr. “By prioritizing mental health at work—through resources, training and open communication—employers have the opportunity to create a culture that breaks down stigma and promotes well-being throughout the organization.”
The third annual NAMI poll, which gauges nationwide sentiments about workplace mental health, conducted by Ipsos, includes full-time employees at companies with more than 100 employees.
Important instructions:
Many employers don’t believe their workplace prioritizes mental health, many want training and resources
Only half (54%) of employees believe their company prioritizes their mental health. The majority of respondents say it would be helpful to receive training on mental health conditions (79%), recognizing and responding to a mental health crisis (80%), managing stress or burnout (81%), and mental health resources offered by their employer (81%). Despite this strong demand, less than one in three respondents report actually receiving mental health-related training at work.
Data shows that mental health training makes a difference. Employees at companies that offer mental health training report feeling more supported by their manager (86% vs 70%) and their leadership (58% vs 43%). They are also less likely to be concerned about the effects of mental health stigma at work (43% vs 52%).
Managers are caught in the middle
Employers believe that direct managers or supervisors play a key role in creating comfort around discussing mental health at work. But only 28% of managers report having received training to support these types of conversations with their team.
Managers who have adequate workplace mental health resources are more likely to feel prepared to support their teams (90% vs 61%). They are also less likely to feel burned out (45% vs 73%) and much less likely to leave their job for mental health reasons (18% vs 41%).
Employers are open to discussing mental health but are concerned about stigma
Overall, three in four respondents feel it is appropriate to discuss mental health at work. But when it comes to talking about themselves, people are more comfortable talking about aspects of their identity at work or their physical health than talking about their mental health.
Almost half of the respondents said they were concerned that they would be judged for sharing potential mental health challenges with their colleagues.
Megan Delp, director of workplace mental health at NAMI, said: “People are seeing mental health as appropriate and appropriate to talk about at work, and that’s encouraging. But the main barriers continue to be in the form of stigma and fear of retaliation or missed opportunities.” “NAMI’s Stigma-Free Workplace initiatives aim to help companies remove these barriers and create more ways to connect so people can bring their full and best selves to work.”
Learn more about NAMI StigmaFree and how to access training on discussing mental health at work.
This NAMI/Ipsos poll was conducted from January 27 to February 2, 2026 by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®. This survey is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 2,153 general population adults, age 18 or older, who are employed full-time and work in a business or enterprise with at least 100 employees. Learn more about Poll Methodology.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions.
Source: National Association of Psychiatrists (NAMI)
#NAMI #survey #shows #increased #stress #demand #workplace #mental #health #resources