more-women-than-men-seek-counselling-at-work-self-development-main-focus-report

More women go in for counselling sessions at work than men, their main areas of focus being self-development, conflict in a relationship and high stress levels, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service provider 1to1help's report, State of Emotional Wellbeing 2023, has revealed.

Though they constituted 30 per cent of the workforce, women accounted for 55 per cent counselling sessions at workplaces.

Out of counselling sessions sought, 60.11 per cent was focused on relationship issues when it came to women. Around 68.55 per cent of financial counselling was sought by men, the report added, according to PTI.

Among women, self-development was the biggest concern, which included regulating emotions, coping with stress, handling grief and loss as well as navigating life transitions such as starting a career, moving away from home and getting married.

Women had also been discussing relationship concerns such as finding a partner, handling communication or conflict in a relationship, healing from break-ups and mental health challenges including concerns such as dealing with high stress levels or burnout.

The report was based on data collected in 2023 during one million counselling sessions conducted by 1to1help.

The IT sector led with the highest counselling utilisation rate at 35 per cent, followed closely by Consulting at 12 per cent, and banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) at 11 per cent.

A pre-screening process revealed that a staggering 85 per cent of counselling seekers exhibited symptoms of moderate or severe anxiety and depression.

"By sharing this data, we aim to not only deepen our understanding of workplace challenges but also to guide employers in crafting more effective mental well-being policies," 1to1help CEO Mahua Bisht said.