Employers have made major strides in workforce mental health for the past several years—reducing stigma, enhancing access, and providing higher-quality, higher-value care. As 2026 approaches, howeve...
Autore: Business Wire
New report finds employers are focused on developing workforce resilience as 65% say mental health–related leaves are increasing
BURLINGAME, Calif.: Employers have made major strides in workforce mental health for the past several years-reducing stigma, enhancing access, and providing higher-quality, higher-value care. As 2026 approaches, however, new pressures are testing that progress.
Lyra Health, the leading provider of mental health solutions for employers, health plans, and health systems, today released its 2026 Workforce Mental Health Trends Forecast, revealing that employers are entering a new era defined by prevention, personalization, and resilience-while balancing rising costs and demand for measurable impact.
The sixth annual survey of more than 500 HR and benefits leaders across U.S.-based organizations with global workforces found that nearly all (98%) say comprehensive mental health benefits are essential to attracting and retaining talent. Yet 65% report a rise in mental health–related leaves, a sign that traditional approaches are no longer enough. As employee resilience wanes, family stress intensifies, and AI introduces new uncertainty, employers are being called to rethink how they support their workforce and define value.
“We’re seeing the same kind of inflection point that reshaped the industry a decade ago,” said Joe Grasso, PhD, Vice President of Workforce Transformation at Lyra Health. “Back then, the focus was on replacing traditional EAPs with more comprehensive care. Now employers are emphasizing prevention, sustainable work design, and specialized care-while equipping workforces with the skills and support to adapt to the future of work.”
Mental Health Progress Slips as Complex Conditions Surge
More than half of benefits leaders say employee well-being has improved in recent years, but those gains are slipping.
Employers are responding with early identification, specialty care programs, manager training, and return-to-work programs aimed at reducing time out on leave and improving recovery.
The Family Squeeze: Rising Caregiver Stress Emerges as a Top Workforce Risk
Nearly half of HR and benefits leaders now rank family and caregiving stress as one of their top workforce concerns, a tenfold increase from last year.
Employers are expanding access to child and teen care, offering caregiver-specific tools, and adding flexibility to reduce stress across households.
The Neurodiversity Imperative: A New Priority for Employers
As mental health benefits evolve, employers are turning attention to neurodiversity as the next frontier in workforce well-being and performance.
Forward-thinking employers are closing these care gaps through early evaluation, manager education, and access to specialized providers.
“Trends like rising leaves, caregiver strain, and increased awareness of neurodiversity reflect both the progress and the pressures shaping today’s workforce,” said Dr. Alethea Varra, Chief Clinical Officer at Lyra Health. “The opportunity for employers is clear: pair modern benefit design with clinical depth. By investing in early intervention, integrated care, and strong manager support, leaders can protect both their people and their bottom line.”
Additional Findings from Lyra’s 2026 Forecast
For more insight into the key trends shaping the year ahead and actionable tips for employers, download the 2026 Workforce Mental Health Trends Forecast here.
About Lyra Health
Lyra Health is the leading provider of Workforce Mental Health benefits, serving more than 20 million people globally through direct employer contracts and more than 100 million through health plan and partner relationships. Lyra is transforming access to life-changing mental health care through Lyra Empower, the only fully integrated, AI-powered platform combining the highest-quality care and technology solutions for members, providers and HR leaders. Empower works in the background to quickly connect members to the largest global network of evidence-based mental health providers, deliver actionable insights to benefit leaders, and free up providers to focus on client care-driving outstanding positive outcomes that are equitable across diverse racial and ethnic groups. Extensive peer-reviewed research confirms Lyra’s transformative care model helps people recover twice as fast and results in a 26% annual reduction in overall healthcare claims costs. For more information, visit lyrahealth.com.
Fonte: Business Wire