Why Books Should Be Part of Your Workplace Wellness Strategy: Employee Mental Health India Trends and Solutions

HR and Business Leaders - The rising cost of employee mental health in India and globally underscores the need to rethink your workplace wellness strategy.

Why Most Wellness Programs Are Failing: The Widening Mental Health Gap

Despite increased corporate spending on wellness, the mental health crisis continues to deepen.

In 2024, the American Psychological Association reported that 83% of U.S. workers experienced work-related stress, and nearly half said it affected their performance and motivation (APA, May 2024).

Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety, costing USD 1 trillion per year in lost productivity. [World Health Report]

India has experienced a 30–50% rise in mental health-related insurance claims over the past 2–3 years, with anxiety and depression being the most common conditions reported. (Economic Times, May 2025).

77% of workers in India have a moderate to high risk of experiencing mental health issues. [Aon Mental Health Index Report]

A 2023 survey of over 3,500 Indian organizations revealed that only about 30% of employees participate in company-sponsored wellness programs, citing factors like lack of awareness and perceived ineffectiveness. (People Matters, November 2023)

While companies are offering more wellness solutions, be it apps, webinars, or mental health days, the reality is stark: usage is low, and impact is unclear.

According to CB Insights (2024), less than 10% of employees continue using the average corporate wellness app three weeks after onboarding.

3 problems plague most corporate wellness programs -

• Problem 1: Content overload, zero connection

• Problem 2: Digital and decision fatigue, leading to low voluntary uptake

• Problem 3: No meaningful measurement beyond attendance

What Forward-Thinking Companies are Prioritizing Instead: Shift from Perks to Purpose-Driven Support

Forward-looking companies are making a conscious pivot. Instead of adding more “one-size-fits-all solutions” to already crowded platforms, they’re asking: What do employees actually need?

Here’s what leading organizations are now prioritizing :

• Personalized tools that meet employees where they are

• Seamless, low-friction platforms that reduce digital and decision fatigue

• Outcomes over usage metrics, tracked through real behavioral shifts

• Managers trained and equipped to support their teams’ mental health

• Cultural change that normalizes care and reduces stigma

One tool that’s emerging as effective across all these dimensions? Books.

Specifically, thoughtfully curated books.

Why Books for Mental Well-being Work Way Better Than Digital Tools

Unlike many corporate mental health solutions that rely on digital interventions, books are -

• Private and stigma-free: Employees don’t have to “opt in” to something public

• No screens, no fatigue: Print and digital books fit naturally into daily routines

• Emotionally resonant: Stories offer validation, perspective, and psychological safety                                                                                                            

• Perfect for:

  • Employees who are not ready for therapy

  • Managers dealing with team fatigue

  • HR leaders seeking scalable, low-lift solutions

Low-Friction, High-Impact – Books easily blend evidence-based mental health benefits with accessibility, depth, and human connection

What Neuroscience and Behavioral Research Say About Using Books In High-Pressure Work Environments

Science backs how effective books are in managing your employees' mental health.

Deep reading activates the brain’s empathy and reflection networks, according to Dr. Maryanne Wolf, cognitive neuroscientist and author of Reader, Come Home. Her research shows that reading strengthens our capacity to focus, regulate emotion, and think critically - all vital in high-pressure work environments.

Other studies have found that reading reduces stress by up to 68%, surpassing the effects of music or walking. It lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, improves sleep, and supports long-term cognitive and emotional resilience (University of Sussex, updated 2024).

Unlike wellness apps, books don’t track, notify, or require performance. They offer a private, non-stigmatizing space for reflection - ideal for employees who aren’t ready for therapy or who feel overwhelmed by screen-based tools.

Bibliotherapy in the Workplace: A Scalable, Science-Backed Cure for Mental Health

Bibliotherapy is the intentional use of books to support emotional healing and mental well-being. It has been used for decades in clinical and community settings, and is now being quietly adopted by leading workplaces.

Global Examples:

• The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) runs a national “Books on Prescription” program for anxiety, depression, and grief

• Fortune 500 companies have piloted bibliotherapy as part of burnout recovery, DEI learning, and emotional resilience coaching

• Universities and libraries across Europe now offer guided bibliotherapy sessions as a mental wellness tool
  

Why It Resonates in High-Stress, High-Performance Workplaces

In high-stress, high-performance workplaces, this method is gaining traction for one reason: it works.

• Works for teams under cognitive load

• Encourages reflection without performance pressure

• Complements specialized medical attention with gentle, ongoing support

How MyBookWorks Employee wellness Platform Helps HR and Benefits Leaders Deliver What Matters

MyBookWorks offers a curated, easy-to-integrate solution that brings bibliotherapy to the workplace.

1. Personalized Resources

Books for grief, burnout, trauma, anxiety, parenting, self-worth, and more, tailored by emotion, life event, or role

2. Unified, Friction-Free Platform

No logins, no LMS, no clutter - just one clean library experience across print and eBooks

3. Trackable, Actionable Outcomes

Engagement insights, thematic trends, and employee feedback - not just usage metrics

4. Equipping Leaders with Empathy Tools

Book kits for managers to support struggling team members, have tough conversations, and build psychological safety

5. Culture Change That Feels Natural

Meaningful tools such as curated wellbeing reading roadmaps, reading corners, and monthly challenges embed care into company culture

Rethinking the Mental Wellness Playbook

Books offer what most wellness tools don’t: slowness, safety, and soul.

They create space for employees to pause, giving them the space to reconnect with themselves, delivered through a depth no app can replicate – this is the best mental wellness gift you could give.

For HR and Benefits leaders looking to make mental wellness truly stick, MyBookWorks offers a scalable, human-first solution that meets this moment.

Ready To See How A Curated Wellness Library Could Support Your Teams?

Contact us to get a personalized mental wellness strategy for your company.

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Sources:

• American Psychological Association (May 2024)

• People Matters (Nov 2023), “Survey reveals why employer-sponsored wellness programs go untapped”

• Economic Times (May 2025): 30-50% rise in mental health insurance claims, most claims for anxiety, depression: Study

• AON, “Asia Mental Health Index: India ”

• University of Sussex Study, Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab (2024 update)

• Dr. Maryanne Wolf, Reader, Come Home (HarperCollins, 2023 ed.)