US Worker Mental Health Improved As Economy Reopened, But PTSD Risk Up 121% From Post-Pandemic

Workers' mental health has remained a serious concern throughout the pandemic, and as economies have reopened there has been an improvement in behavioral health.

But according to the first-quarter report from the 2022 Mental Health Index U.S. Worker Edition, new problems are arising, as 1-in-4 workers in March were at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is an increase of 121% from pre-pandemic levels.

“It is understandable that this reintegration after such a lengthy period in quarantine has also resulted in an increased risk of PTSD,” said Daryl Tol, executive vice president of One Mind at Work.

The index, which was released on Thursday, relies on data from neuroscientific brain assessments of 500 working Americans from the Total Brain platform from the first week of February 2020 until March 28, 2022. Those looked at for the Index were from all walks of life, religions, job levels, occupations, industries, and organizations, public and private.