American workers remain down in the doldrums – and onerous workloads are reportedly a key culprit.

That’s according to a new nationwide survey of approximately 1,100 professional/office workers, which revealed 50% feel their mental health has deteriorated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings come amid Mental Health Awareness Month.

Notably, 58% of professional employees reported that increased work hours and workload have negatively affected their mental health to a large extent, according to the survey from The Conference Board, a nonprofit/nonpartisan think tank.

Women and millennials were more likely to report this than other gender or generational cohorts. The problematic mental impact of overwork was found to be more pronounced among remote employees: 61% of remote workers said increased hours/workload was taking a heavier toll on their mental health, compared to 44% of in-office workers.

“As workers continue to struggle with their well-being, organizations should consider embracing new and innovative solutions to support them,” said Dr. Srini Pillay, co-founder and chief medical officer at Reulay Inc. and former head of the Outpatient Anxiety Disorders Program at Harvard Medical School’s McLean Hospital. “Underutilized programs like virtual therapeutic platforms and training to build resilience can offer new ways to both reduce stress and increase productivity.”

Interestingly, the survey found that policies and programs aimed at supporting employee well-being have increased, but less than half of workers find them helpful. For instance, 88% of organizations offered programs that support emotional well-being – think mental health resources, employee assistance programs – which was up from 66% in April 2021. Still, only 29% of survey respondents found such programs to be of use.

Engaging in introspection, naming your emotions and triggers, and admitting you’re struggling are key to addressing mental health struggles in a constructive way. As Mental Health Awareness Month continues, get more insights here https://t.co/6hC4XPlRA5

— Chris Ruvo (@ChrisR_ASI) May 24, 2022

Meanwhile, the survey revealed that training to recognize the signs of mental health concerns and how to seek support was offered at 50% of organizations. “Despite the benefits of building resilience on well-being, less than half of organizations offer training to do so (45%), and only 14% of respondents use this training when available,” The Conference Board noted.

A factor contributing to the mental health weariness among workers is that many simply can’t turn off thinking about their jobs. Some 84% of survey respondents said they often or always think about work outside of work hours. Whether an employee labors in a remote, hybrid or in-office setting made no difference in this in ability to shut down, the survey found.

Workers had some ideas on how their emotional well-being could be improved. Six in 10 (61%) indicated that greater trust from management would affect their mental health positively to a great extent. Additionally, more than three-quarters (76%) said flexibility to work during peak productivity hours is “very or extremely effective” in helping them maintain work-life boundaries.

Some 51% of workers said providing boundaries for after-hours communication to help employees disconnect at the end of the day was very or extremely effective. “Mandating the use of vacation time and not allowing rollover was least effective (in helping set work/life boundaries), with 30% saying it is not at all effective,” the survey found.

Another revelation executives may want to take note of: An increased connection to mission and purpose at work matters significantly less to the mental health of workers than CEOs think. While 78% of CEOs think such an enhanced connection will improve worker mental health to a great extent, only 44% of employees said the same. “In fact, one in four respondents say it has little or no impact at all,” according to The Conference Board.