People working in the real estate industry have the highest occurrence of mental health issues of any industry, research from mental health support app Wysa has revealed.
Two thirds (61%) of people working in the sector have been bothered by thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation, highlighting the high-stress nature of the sector.
This is followed by those in agriculture (54%), hospitality (51%), engineering (47%), manufacturing (45%), construction (45%), and retail (45%).
Ramakant Vempati, president and co-founder at Wysa, said: “These statistics serve as a wake-up call for employers to recognize and address the mental health crisis within the workplace.
“Even one person contemplating suicide or self-harm is too high. The average person will spend one-third of their lifetime at work, so UK companies have an opportunity to play a pivotal role in supporting individuals.
“Equipping the workplace with the tools and training to identify crises and provide critical interventions can prevent tragedies from occurring.”
It also seems there is a lack of sensitivity around the issue.
A staggering 50% of those in real estate say they have seen a manager respond inappropriately to a colleague showing signs or symptoms of mental illness in the past year.
Younger workers faced the most significant rates of symptoms, with nearly half (44%) of 18- to 24-year-olds experiencing emotional distance from others at work and 39% feeling a sense of isolation or withdrawal.