Nearly 48% of Indian corporate employees at high risk for poor mental health: MPower survey

Nearly 48% of corporate employees are struggling with mental health issues, with women being more prone to high mental health risk at 56% v/s that of men at 41%, a new survey: ‘Mental Health and Wellness Quotient @Workplace 2023’ by MPower, an initiative by The Aditya Birla Education Trust has revealed.

The survey conducted by market research firm IPSOS and covering 3,000 employees across 10 sectors and eight Indian cities found that the 35- 45 age group is at higher risk of suffering from these issues, which can have a significant impact on employee productivity. Approximately 50% of these employees strongly agree that stress impacts their work productivity.

Employees in higher positions, such as senior Associate Vice President/ Vice President, exhibited elevated levels of mental health distress with 70% and 61%, respectively, falling in the ‘At Risk’ category.


The sector which bears the maximum brunt of mental health risk was found to be E-commerce at 64%, followed by FMCG at 56%, automobile & healthcare at 55%, hospitality at 53%, BPO at 47%, banking at 41%, education at 39%, IT at 38%, and durables at 31%.

In addition to the high percentage of employees experiencing mental health risks in various sectors, post-pandemic work culture has also highlighted the risks associated with working long hours. Employees who work more than 45 hours per week are at a higher risk of experiencing poor mental health. Furthermore, employees who do not take regular breaks during work hours, skip meals, and fail to exercise are also at a higher risk of experiencing mental health challenges.

The study also highlighted family and relationships issues at 24% as the second highest reason for impacting mental health at workplace; followed by financial well-being at 22%.

Dr Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Mpower and Aditya Birla Education Trust said in a statement: "Corporate burnout and the mental health stress among employees have reached alarming levels in India, and we must take action to address this critical issue. At Mpower, we are committed to driving conversations around mental health and raising awareness to help destigmatize mental health discussions. We urge policy changes at both the government and corporate levels, with a focus on mental health as a real challenge that requires attention. Employee well-being programs must be implemented to support those in need, and the destigmatization of mental health is urgently required to ensure equitable support to all employees. A physically and mentally healthy workforce is crucial for a country like India, which is relying on its youth for economic growth."