Poor mental health can be a serious productivity killer in the workplace and cost companies billions in losses. The bright side is that the number of technology solutions available to handle this issue is increasing rapidly. What can you do to promote good mental health at work through technology? Find out in this article.
In the workplace, mental health issues can arise from a number of situations. From burnout, to bullying, to simply poor communication leading to poor productivity, the causes are wide-ranging.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently revealedOpens a new window that “Depression and anxiety have a significant economic impact; the estimated cost to the global economy is US $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.â€
In the UK, poor mental health led to a loss of an amount between £33 billion and £42 billionOpens a new window for employers.
These losses can be caused by low productivity, absence from work, and employee turnover, among other reasons.
What can employers do to change this?
It would benefit them to take a close look at the mental health of their employees. In doing so, they can prevent workplace-related mental health issues as far as possible.
Learn More: How to Build your Team and Strengthen your Workplace through Mental and Emotional SupportOpens a new window
Why Do Employees Fail to Report Mental Health Issues in the Workplace?
Back in 2008Opens a new window , in the U.S., the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act made it mandatory for insurers to offer mental health and substance use disorder benefits equivalent to medical or surgical coverage.
And in 2010, the Affordable Care Act only extended its relevance – health insurance must not cover 10 essential benefits across the U.S., putting mental health and other illnesses on exactly the same footing.
If on one hand the impact of poor mental health on the workforce is so evident and on the other, policies are in place to address the issue – where, then, is the gap?
1. Employees think being honest about their mental health may harm their careers
The majority of the workforce believes asking for help could prove harmful to their careers.
They may be perceived as incompetent or unable to perform in high-stakes work scenarios – a notion that other health challenges don’t carry.
2. There is a communication breakdown between employers and employees
Employers may fail to educate their employees about what constitutes good mental health. This leads employees to overlook the physical symptoms of poor mental health such as lack of sleep and acidity.
Employees may not be aware of the mental health benefits available to them. If the symptoms mentioned above and related diagnoses are not mentioned in the healthcare or insurance terms (like accidental coverage, maternity costs, or critical illness costs usually are), the assumption is that mental health is outside the ambit of employee benefits.
And overall, the assurance that mental health issues can be treated is absent.
Here’s where technology can come in and bridge the gap.
Learn More: Are Your Employees Fine or Are They Flourishing?Opens a new window
5 Steps to Better Mental Health With Technology
Other more robust solutions make it easier for employers to incorporate mental health into their benefits schemes and administer them easily, with near-zero hiccups. Organizations could even opt for a dedicated platform where employees speak directly to therapists and other mental health professionals.
And here are five more ways this can be done effectively:
1. Create awareness
Incorporating mental health plans into engagement plans can be effective. Inviting speakers and third-party service providers to employee events, holding monthly meets or even annual retreats, and creating an environment where employees feel safe about communicating ongoing challenges should head the priority list.
Invest in or encourage employees to use mobile apps. These apps ensure the all-important privacy for those suffering, offering a support system without having employers divulge their diagnosis to colleagues.
Organizations can empower workers individually by adopting platforms like Ginger.ioOpens a new window , an artificial intelligence-powered app that offers behavioral coaching and help through teletherapy. The app connects users to licensed professionals, with whom they can even receive counseling via video.
2. Encourage dialog
A workplace where dialogue around mental health is easy and comfortable is driven by a culture supported by managers and employees alike.
Managers could set the precedent by speaking about the challenges they have experienced or encountered. This gives their teams the space to join in as well. The goal is to introduce an element of “the personal,†reducing the taboo around mental illness.
Here too, you can use technology to streamline communicationOpens a new window . Something as simple as a platform where employees can openly discuss their mental health issues can get them to open up.
Talking openly about mental health issues is a matter of workplace culture, and only when this culture is implemented can people feel safe in their workplace.
3. Improve working conditions
With the average employee spending at least 40 hours a week at work (the number jumps significantly for bottom-tier and top-tier positions), the daily working experience can make a big difference.
Several factors can add up to help employees improve their mental health – from healthy snacking optionsOpens a new window and flexible hours to hands-off managerial approaches and community building activities.
In addition, timely HR and ITOpens a new window assistance, for example, through AI-powered employee self-service platformsOpens a new window , can go a long way in helping employees take control over their own schedules.
This way, stress levels are contained, and satisfaction rates soar.
4. Deploy the right plans
Employee schemes must clearly outline a mental health component. While this is typically covered by the standard umbrella, adding a dedicated module can also help.
Choosing an appropriate third-party provider is an important part of the process. This includes software service firms, insurance agencies, and even deployment consultancy services if required.
JustworksOpens a new window is following a new model – a mental health solution is bundled into their product, but it also stands as a distinct module that lets employees know that it’s there. This solution has 24/7 access to counseling services with unlimited calling, and up to three complimentary sessions with a local therapist.
This eliminates much of the red tape and accessibility constraints associated with healthcare in the US.
5. Monitor routinely
A critical aspect of any wellness scheme is preemptive and preventive care.
Keeping an eye out for red flags, conducting monthly checks, and asking employees to self-report – via regular pulse surveysOpens a new window , for instance – can help spot mental health trouble before it is about to set in.
If spotted, solutions such as counseling or a good employee assistance programOpens a new window may be enough to take on the issue.
Regular monitoring can fetch significant savings in terms of healthcare bills and productivity dips.
Learn More: How to Help Highly Sensitive Employees Optimize Their Mental Health in the WorkplaceOpens a new window
The Future of Mental Health Management in the Workplace
The ideal scenario where employees are given the support to manage their mental health would be a mix of good managerial practices, an open culture, and smart tech implementation.
It has been predicted that in 2019, the investment in digital health solutions will surpass the US $8.2 billion invested in 2018Opens a new window . The mental health startup space is also booming, with about 27 startups making their presence felt in the market in 2019.
By 2020, 27% of employersOpens a new window are expected to offer mobile sleep applications to workforces – a preemptive approach, before taking on anxiety, stress, and the big mental health guns.
The solutions are right there for the taking.
Instead of having to seek out a professional, file insurance papers, and find the time to do it all in the middle of a tight workday, mental health needs to be as simple as logging into an app, and as all-encompassing as a great work environment.
Do you have additional tips on how mental health can be managed in the workplace? Share them with us on FacebookOpens a new window , LinkedInOpens a new window , or TwitterOpens a new window , and let’s talk about this further.
(Updated: 07/04/2019)