“People spend about a third of their lives at work—this puts employers in a unique position to support mental wellbeing at work. Because of this, there’s a moral and business imperative to support mental health at work. Unfortunately, existing pathways to care may not be the right fit for many working adults. Over half of the people with clinical-level mental health challenges say they don’t seek out professional help, and 64% of them say that’s because they prefer self-help or lack confidence in treatment.
Clinically-validated digital mental health solutions can enable employees to proactively and conveniently seek support and guidance to help them reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. Self-guided tools are particularly apt for the missing middle; a group that encompasses many of us—people that experience periodic mild-to-moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression and may not want or need face-to-face support.
Delays in accessing care (or not seeking it at all) contribute significantly to the escalation of mental health struggles. For the missing middle, a digital-first approach can help people address potential mental health concerns early, providing timely intervention and support, and safeguarding employees’ health, as well as their personal lives and work performance. Accessing care via an app can reduce stigma and barriers to care for employees.
During Mental Health Awareness Month and every month, I urge employers to build a culture of mental health in their workplace and offer comprehensive and clinically-validated digital solutions as part of a holistic strategy to promote and support mental health and wellbeing. Offering this type of support can also reduce downstream costs for self-insured employers. Over two and a half million people are currently unable to work due to health-related issues—the Office for National Statistics attributes this increase to mental health concerns. By offering discreet and accessible tools to the entire workforce, leaders can both support workplace wellbeing and ensure that the most vulnerable employees are not overlooked”.