Most UK Staff Have Mental Health Support. Few Would Use It

Posted on in Workplace

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Employers have spent years building mental health benefits. A new survey suggests the harder part is getting people to walk through the door. Among 2,010 UK employees at companies with 500 or more staff, 91% said they have access to employer mental health support, yet only 37% said they would actually use it. The online survey was run by Research Without Barriers between 25 August and 2 September 2026 and commissioned by Kara Connect, a provider of employee wellbeing services.

The Problem Is Trust, Not the Queue

Speed is not what puts people off: only 15% said waiting more than a week would deter them. The real barriers are about consequences. 32% worry about their career or job security, 29% cite embarrassment and 22% doubt that conversations would stay confidential. One in four do not know how to access the support, and 23% think their problem is not serious enough. Dr Alison Bishop, founder of Resilience Resourced, noted that hesitation is natural when help is tied to the organization that pays your salary, and pointed to very practical questions, such as how to explain being away from your desk or how to walk back into a busy room after crying.

Rank matters too. 51% of senior managers said they would turn to employer support first, compared with 30% of non-managerial staff. Stated intentions also run well ahead of reality: a separate report puts actual employee assistance programme usage at about 3%.

Expectations Versus Perceived Coverage

  • Anxiety and depression: 80% expect support, 57% think it is covered.
  • Stress and burnout: 75% expect it, 49% think it is covered.
  • Bereavement: 69% versus 48%.
  • Conflict or bullying: 62% versus 42%.
  • Crisis support: 47% versus 30%.

Some of that gap may simply be benefits that exist but are badly explained. Choice and convenience help: 21% would only feel comfortable if they could pick their own therapist, and 26% said digital access would make them more likely to seek help. Kara Connect's founder and CEO Tobba Vigfúsdóttir summed it up: availability is not the same as trust, and the job is not to buy more services but to make the first step feel safe.