Half of the workers experienced depression and anxiety...More than two out of five people feel isolated
Jun 17, 2025
About half of Korean workers experienced depression and anxiety affecting work productivity.
The Mental Health Index (hereinafter 'MHI') developed by TELUS Health, a global leader in workplace wellness, was introduced to Korea for the first time.
MHI is published quarterly and measures and tracks mental health, well-being indices, and productivity trends of workers around the world, helping organizations and their policymakers build healthier organizations.
Nearly half of South Korea's workers are experiencing depression and anxiety, according to a report this quarter. In addition, more than 1 in 3 workers have no savings available for emergencies, women's mental health scores are lower than average, and more than 2 in 5 workers feel isolated, the study found.
This MHI report shows concerns about mental health issues affecting workplaces and families in South Korea.
◇ A third of parents, concerns about their children's mental health...About half of the workers have financial problems as the main cause of stress
About a third of parents with school-age and adolescent children were found to be concerned about their children's mental health. Because of this, the parents' mental health score was 6 points lower than the national average. It was found that 44% of workers complained of isolation. These factors create a cycle of stress that threatens family relationships and work life, the report explains.
In addition, according to the MHI report, 35% of workers lack emergency funds to utilize in an emergency, and 46% of workers say financial issues are a major source of stress.
Thirty percent of workers said their mental health negatively affects work productivity, while 38 percent felt overwhelmed by their sense of responsibility.
47% of workers felt depressed and 43% felt anxious.
One in four workers see health and medical problems as the cause of stress.
Paula Allen, Global Team Leader in Research and Customer Insights at Telus Health, wrote, "The insights gained through research on workers' mental health and well-being are essential to creating an environment in which employers support workers and increasing resilience among teams."Prioritizing employee mental health and well-being can improve sense of belonging, improve productivity, strengthen organizational culture, and drive sustainable business growth."," he stressed.
◇Korea's mental health index is lower than New Zealand...Need to deliver a custom solution
When looking at the MHI score of workers by country in the second quarter of 2025, the United States was the highest at 69.9 points, followed by the United Kingdom (64.7), Canada (63.1 points), Australia (63.0 points), Singapore (62.9 points), the European Union (62.4 points), and New Zealand (60.6 points). Korea scored 56.1 points.
The lowest MHI score in Korea was in the central region (53.1), followed by the Honam region (55.6). Workers in the Yeongnam and metropolitan areas scored 56.2 and 56.4, respectively, slightly higher.
The MHI index is calculated based on a systematic index system that gives each response a score. Higher indices mean better mental health conditions and lower mental health risks. The total response index is divided by the maximum possible index and converted into a standard index of 100 points, and the raw score is the average score of each respondent. Index scores are divided into 'high-risk'0-49 points, 'cautious needs'50-79, and 'good'80-100 points.
The MHI report contains implications related to major psychosocial risks in the workplace and scores based on industry and other demographic categories.
The MHI Index study report is conducted globally to examine the mental health of workers in New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Europe. The survey was conducted through an online survey from March 14 to March 27, 2025, with 1000 respondents.
Meanwhile, Telus Health expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region last year by acquiring EZN wellness, a leading operator of EAP (Worker Support Program) in Korea. As a result, Easy & Wellness will be able to provide Telus Health's comprehensive mental health and well-being support services, along with an in-depth understanding of the working environment in the country.
Kang Min-jae, CEO of Easy & Wellness, said "MHI is a clear indicator of the mental health status faced by Korean workers through comparison with other developed countries. Although it is already widely known that the mental health of Korean workers is vulnerable, MHI will give great insight to comparing the mental health of Korean workers with that of other countries and identifying changes over time"It is also expected that this indicator will serve as an important guide for businesses and policymakers trying to create a healthy workplace. We are already working with Telus Health to enhance our ability to provide customized wellbeing research and solutions" he said.
The Mental Health Index (hereinafter 'MHI') developed by TELUS Health, a global leader in workplace wellness, was introduced to Korea for the first time.
MHI is published quarterly and measures and tracks mental health, well-being indices, and productivity trends of workers around the world, helping organizations and their policymakers build healthier organizations.
Nearly half of South Korea's workers are experiencing depression and anxiety, according to a report this quarter. In addition, more than 1 in 3 workers have no savings available for emergencies, women's mental health scores are lower than average, and more than 2 in 5 workers feel isolated, the study found.
This MHI report shows concerns about mental health issues affecting workplaces and families in South Korea.
◇ A third of parents, concerns about their children's mental health...About half of the workers have financial problems as the main cause of stress
About a third of parents with school-age and adolescent children were found to be concerned about their children's mental health. Because of this, the parents' mental health score was 6 points lower than the national average. It was found that 44% of workers complained of isolation. These factors create a cycle of stress that threatens family relationships and work life, the report explains.
In addition, according to the MHI report, 35% of workers lack emergency funds to utilize in an emergency, and 46% of workers say financial issues are a major source of stress.
Thirty percent of workers said their mental health negatively affects work productivity, while 38 percent felt overwhelmed by their sense of responsibility.
47% of workers felt depressed and 43% felt anxious.
One in four workers see health and medical problems as the cause of stress.
Paula Allen, Global Team Leader in Research and Customer Insights at Telus Health, wrote, "The insights gained through research on workers' mental health and well-being are essential to creating an environment in which employers support workers and increasing resilience among teams."Prioritizing employee mental health and well-being can improve sense of belonging, improve productivity, strengthen organizational culture, and drive sustainable business growth."," he stressed.
◇Korea's mental health index is lower than New Zealand...Need to deliver a custom solution
When looking at the MHI score of workers by country in the second quarter of 2025, the United States was the highest at 69.9 points, followed by the United Kingdom (64.7), Canada (63.1 points), Australia (63.0 points), Singapore (62.9 points), the European Union (62.4 points), and New Zealand (60.6 points). Korea scored 56.1 points.
The lowest MHI score in Korea was in the central region (53.1), followed by the Honam region (55.6). Workers in the Yeongnam and metropolitan areas scored 56.2 and 56.4, respectively, slightly higher.
The MHI index is calculated based on a systematic index system that gives each response a score. Higher indices mean better mental health conditions and lower mental health risks. The total response index is divided by the maximum possible index and converted into a standard index of 100 points, and the raw score is the average score of each respondent. Index scores are divided into 'high-risk'0-49 points, 'cautious needs'50-79, and 'good'80-100 points.
The MHI report contains implications related to major psychosocial risks in the workplace and scores based on industry and other demographic categories.
The MHI Index study report is conducted globally to examine the mental health of workers in New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Europe. The survey was conducted through an online survey from March 14 to March 27, 2025, with 1000 respondents.
Meanwhile, Telus Health expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region last year by acquiring EZN wellness, a leading operator of EAP (Worker Support Program) in Korea. As a result, Easy & Wellness will be able to provide Telus Health's comprehensive mental health and well-being support services, along with an in-depth understanding of the working environment in the country.
Kang Min-jae, CEO of Easy & Wellness, said "MHI is a clear indicator of the mental health status faced by Korean workers through comparison with other developed countries. Although it is already widely known that the mental health of Korean workers is vulnerable, MHI will give great insight to comparing the mental health of Korean workers with that of other countries and identifying changes over time"It is also expected that this indicator will serve as an important guide for businesses and policymakers trying to create a healthy workplace. We are already working with Telus Health to enhance our ability to provide customized wellbeing research and solutions" he said.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
