The Majority of People in New Pearson Survey Expect Schools and Employers to Step Up on Mental Health Issues

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 06, 2022

 As the Great Resignation continues to disrupt the global economy, Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, today released new public opinion research showing that people around the world are prioritizing mental health and wellbeing when looking for careers for themselves and educational opportunities for their children.

The Pearson Global Learner Survey, a poll of 5,000 people found that 85% globally expect their employers to address the mental health and wellbeing of employees. While only one-third (32%) of respondents say their employers have not taken any action to address mental health and wellbeing, more than 80% globally know just what they want from employers and educational institutions: a set amount of mental health days off from work and school, free mental health services, and access to physical fitness activities and wellness resources, including helpline numbers, research, clinic locations, and online therapy options.

And even though nearly all respondents believe accessible mental health services in school are critical, there’s a disconnect there, too: Globally, 92% of parents think schools should provide free mental health services to students and staff, while only 26% report these resources being available at their child’s school.

“Work and school are the places where we spend the most time, outside our family life. Employees and families are demanding more attention from employers and schools to address the impact of the mental health crisis that has been exacerbated over the last two and a half years,” said Morgan Champion, school counseling lead, Pearson Virtual Schools. “As Covid becomes endemic and we get accustomed to new ways of working and learning, organizations will need to be strategic and innovative in incorporating wellness and wellbeing into their offerings to stay competitive and serve their workforces and student populations.”

Covid-19 pandemic took its toll on professionals that have struggled to deal with lockdown, isolation from working remotely, job insecurities and health scares. The UAE Government is regularly undertaking new measures to address mental health issues to make sure that as a country and as businesses in the region, they provide a a supportive culture and wellness-first policies to attract top talent. The companies in the region understand the importance of finding the right match between employer and employee based not just on competence, experience, and skills, but also in ensuring the cultural fit and working dynamic works for both parties.

Among other findings of the survey:

With the tightest talent market in recent history, mental health resources make a difference for job seekers:

• 90% globally think more highly of employers who actively address employee mental health and wellbeing issues.
• When considering their next job, nearly 90% globally consider employee mental health and wellness benefits for themselves and their families important considerations.
  • In the U.S., Millennial (91%), Gen Z (86%), Hispanic (87%) and African Americans (85%) are the most inclined to consider employers who care about the mental health or wellbeing of their employers.

Expectations of schools and universities are high, too:

• Almost two-thirds (65%) globally believe children should be introduced to wellness and mental health awareness in primary or middle school.
• Nearly 90% agree schools should play a bigger role in training people to solve today’s mental health issues.

When making choices about education resources, mental health matters:

• More than 90% of parents globally regard mental health and wellbeing services as important when considering higher education for themselves or their children. And just as many are more inclined to consider colleges or universities who care about the mental health of their students.

This poll was conducted by Morning Consult from April 13 to April 18, 2022, among a total sample of 5,008 respondents between the ages of 16 to 70 years old. The interviews were conducted online. Results are representative of the online population with a margin of error of plus and minus three percentage points.

Now in its fourth year, Pearson’s Global Learner Survey is the leading poll of learners on education issues in the world, offering a deeper understanding of trends in education and providing key data to help further discussions on many important issues.