Less than half of employees feel comfortable talking to HR about their mental health challenges, according to a new whitepaper, which underscored the importance of trust in addressing these issues at work.

The whitepaper, released by Lincoln Financial and Integrated Benefits Institute, found that supervisors of 75% of employees are consistently available and responsive to their workforce.

However, only 41% of employees feel comfortable discussing mental health with their supervisors or HR. Another 28% said they feel uncomfortable or uncertain discussing the topic with their leaders.

"These findings suggest that strong supervisor relationships do not automatically translate into psychological safety," the report read. "Employees may trust their managers professionally, but many still hesitate to discuss their personal challenges."

Trust is the single factor that determines whether employees open up about their struggles and use the benefits that are available to them, the report said.

"Ultimately, building trust requires deliberate, ongoing effort - including manager training, clearer mental health policies, and open conversations to normalise wellbeing discussions," the report read.

Practical strategies for employers

The findings come amid persisting mental health challenges in the workplace, according to the whitepaper.

It found that women and younger employees report lower overall mental health at work, and are also less comfortable discussing these issues.

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