Older workers feel excluded from conversations around mental health and developments in artificial intelligence that could boost workplace wellbeing, research has revealed.
A study of 2,500 UK employees found a significant divide between different age groups and genders in their attitudes to workplace mental health and emerging technologies.
The research, from workplace mental health provider Unmind, found that older employees reported feeling excluded from conversations around mental health, saying that stigma about poor mental health was the biggest barrier to accessing support.
Older also workers said they “felt overlooked” in comparison to the attention employers give generation Z.
This sentiment is supported by findings that just four in ten (39 percent) of 55-64-year-olds believe their managers are well-equipped to support mental health. In contrast, 60 percent of 18-24-year-olds said this.
Stigma still a problem
More than half (51 percent) of employees aged 55-64 pointed to stigma as the main reason they avoid using mental health resources. Among 18-24 year olds, this barrier was mentioned by 29 percent.
Unmind said that as people are now working longer into later life, employers need to consider the specific challenges faced by older employees, such as age-related stress or career transition difficulties.
Trust in AI is growing
There is a further divide between older and younger workers in how they think about AI and wellbeing.
The majority of gen Z (82 percent) employees think AI will significantly transform workplace mental health by 2030. This shows their familiarity and comfort with the emerging technology as they have grown up with it.
In contrast, such optimism is much lower among people aged 65 and over. Around half (52 percent) of the older age group agreed that AI was significant.
And nearly a third (31 percent) of 18-24 year olds said mental health interventions should be primarily AI-led by 2030, compared to just 10 percent of 55-64s.
Gender gap
The research also found a gender gap as 83 percent of men believe AI will be important for workplace wellbeing compared to 71 percent of women.
As older workers and women expressed greater scepticism towards AI mental health tools, researchers said it was critical for employers to understand and address this disparity. Businesses will need to develop and rollout plans that build trust and ensure accessibility for all their employees.
In spite of scepticism and the barriers created by stigma, the study found that unease about AI is gradually giving way to a growing willingness to embrace it.
Researchers found that workers in all demographics were less concerned about AI compliance issues or legal requirements. The percentage reporting such concerns had dropped from 33 percent in 2024 to 25 percent in 2025. Anxiety about integrating AI into HR systems and workflows had also dropped from 31 percent to 20 percent.
EAPs due an overhaul?
Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) are a key part of workplace mental health strategies, however, more than a third (34 percent) of respondents said they “are no longer relevant”. This finding prompted researchers to question the suitability of EAPs in their current form.
Further data showed that EAP effectiveness is viewed differently across organisational levels. The vast majority (83 percent) of c-suite leaders believe EAPs are effective, but this view is shared by fewer managers as just 62 percent agreed with this.
Among employees aged 55-64, 59 percent view EAPs favourably, compared to 76 percent of 25-34-year-olds. Researchers said this finding “reinforces the notion of a silent mental health crisis among older workers”.
The differences in EAP perception highlights the different ways these groups access and engage with the service.
Unmind urged businesses to ensure that their EAPs are up to date and relevant, and equally accessible for all employees, regardless of age or role.
Nick Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Unmind, said: “This data paints a clear picture: workplace mental health is not one-size-fits-all. For older generations, discussing mental health and illness is still stigmatised, while younger generations see these conversations as an essential part of overall health. Generational, gender, and role-based differences mean organisations must take a tailored approach.
“As AI tools become more prominent, it’s vital they’re implemented thoughtfully, with a focus on complementing human support. By tackling stigma, engaging older employees, and ensuring resources like EAPs work for everyone, businesses can build modern and meaningful wellbeing strategies.”
