A recent survey conducted by the Kerala State Youth Commission revealed that 84.3% of youth employees in the Information Technology (IT) sector and 83.5% of media professionals in the state experience high levels of work-related stress.
The survey report was submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday by Commission Chairman M. Shajar in the presence of Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cherian.
According to the survey, 80.6% of employees in banking and insurance sectors and 75.5% of gig workers also reported work-related stress. Gig workers are those engaged in temporary or freelance jobs. Employees in the retail and industrial sectors reported relatively lower stress levels.
The report was based on a survey of 1,548 employees aged between 18 and 40 years from various sectors including IT, gig economy, media, retail/industrial, and banking/insurance. The findings indicated that the 30-39 age group experienced the highest levels of work-related stress. Additionally, 74.7% of women reported work stress, slightly higher than 73.7% of men.
The report suggests that workplaces should set up active recreational centres to help employees relieve stress and cope with hectic work schedules. It also recommends that large companies hire mental health officers to support employees’ psychological well-being.
The commission further proposed that the government should make mental health insurance mandatory as a standard employee benefit, covering therapy, counselling, and psychiatric treatments.
A national seminar on “Modern Workspaces and Youth Mental Health” will be held on March 3 and 4 in Kazhakoottam to discuss the survey findings and mental health challenges faced by young employees.
