Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Globally Mobile Employees

At Cigna Healthcare®, we understand the distinctive pressures faced by globally mobile employees. These individuals are often resilient, curious and optimistic, but they are also exposed to elevated stress levels, social isolation and rising health care costs.

According to the latest Globally Mobile Edition of the Cigna Healthcare International Health Study, three in four globally mobile individuals faced at least one challenge in the past year that made it difficult to thrive in their host country¹.

Our research shows that globally mobile employees report higher vitality scores than local employees, indicating strong potential for engagement and productivity. However, they are also more likely to delay or forgo medical care due to cost, including counselling and therapy². These findings point to a crucial need for holistic mental health support that is easy to access and use, wherever employees may be based.

Collaborating for Mental Well-being: Cigna Healthcare, Global Health Benefits and Headspace

To address this growing need, Cigna Healthcare, Global Health Benefits is collaborating with Headspace, a global leader in evidence-based mental health and mindfulness solutions.

This collaboration enables employers to provide globally mobile teams with a wide range of accessible support tools, including: unlimited 1-on-1 mental health coaching³, hundreds of meditation and mindfulness exercises, multilingual content, therapy and psychiatry support in the U.S., and guided programs for sleep, anxiety, and stress. These resources are designed to improve resilience, focus and emotional well-being.

This is far more than a wellness perk. It is a response to an urgent business challenge. Headspace’s Workforce State of Mind Report found that 76% of remote employees and more than half of hybrid and in-person employees had considered quitting due to mental health struggles⁴;. Meanwhile, just 43% of HR managers said their employees felt comfortable setting boundaries at work^5.

Together, Cigna Healthcare, Global Health Benefits and Headspace are supporting employers in building cultures where mental health is normalised, stigma is reduced, and well-being is embedded into everyday working life.

Connection Is Essential for Globally Mobile Employees

Living and working abroad often brings disconnection from familiar support systems. Nearly half (48%) of globally mobile individuals say they lack companionship in their host country, compared with 40% of locals¹. Loneliness is more than a personal challenge - it is a risk factor for reduced performance, increased absenteeism and higher health care costs.

Headspace data confirms that employees are seeking opportunities to build connection. The most valued workplace benefits include culture-building programmes and chances to engage with peers ⁴. Initiatives like Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are particularly impactful, with 59% of participants reporting a greater sense of belonging⁴.

Employers can play a powerful role by creating space for these connections to help mobile employees feel supported and seen.

Addressing Stress and Supporting Boundaries

Financial pressure is a leading concern for those on international assignment. In 2024, fewer than one in three globally mobile employees rated their financial well-being as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. Financial well-being dropped by 8% compared to the prior year, and cost was cited as a reason for skipping medical care by 27% of this population¹.

At the same time, boundaries between work and personal time are eroding across the workforce. According to Headspace, 71% of employees work outside expected hours at least once per week, and 75% stay available while on leave⁵. This is not sustainable.

Through Headspace, employees gain access to practical content on setting boundaries and protecting their energy. Tools like guided meditations and coaching empower teams to recover, refocus and maintain balance – all critical for long-term success.

Enabling Global Talent to Thrive

A successful global assignment requires more than logistical support. It calls for whole-person care - physical, emotional, social and financial. Cigna Healthcare research shows that employees with high vitality are five times more likely to consider their move abroad successful than those with low vitality scores¹.

By equipping employees with the right support at the right time, employers can increase retention, reduce burnout and foster lasting well-being.

At Cigna Healthcare, Global Health Benefits, we believe that globally mobile employees deserve tailored, accessible mental health support that helps them thrive - not just cope. That's why we provide a wide range of comprehensive, market-leading benefits that address mental well-being holistically: from International Employee Assistance Programme (IEAP) to flexible access to global care. Our collaboration with Headspace builds on that foundation, bringing even more choice, flexibility and preventative support to employees, wherever they are in the world.

 

1. Cigna Healthcare, International Health Study, Globally Mobile Edition, 2024 Findings
2. Cigna Healthcare, International Health Study, Globally Mobile Edition, 2024 Findings, Health services forgone based on cost
3. Headspace coaching is 24/7 unlimited, in-the-moment support provided by trained coaches and is available to customers in 60 countries and regions in English, Spanish and French languages.
4. Headspace, Workforce State of Mind Report, 2025
5. Headspace, Workforce State of Mind Report, 2025, Boundary-setting and stress data