Emails, smartphones, and video communications evolved to increase productivity and make our working lives easier. Inside and outside of the office, over the years we’ve been presented with ways to be more connected than ever; though this can come at a cost to our health, happiness and productivity. In large, technological advances around work have encouraged unsustainable working practices, leaving many professionals vulnerable to stress and burnout as the boundaries between work and life dissolves.
What if technology like mental health apps for employees could be used to improve sustainability and wellbeing in the workplace? The demand for virtual mental healthcare is certainly there, with an analysis of over 1 million health plan members revealing that telemedicine health visits increased from 0 to 39 per thousand health scheme members between 2019 and 2021.
This week, guest writer Remy Daroowala explores the benefits of healthy workplaces, how mental health and sustainability are connected and how mental health apps for employees can improve sustainability and wellbeing.
The benefits of sustainable and healthy workplaces
An abundance of research has shown that mental wellbeing is linked to physical health and productivity, and companies that prioritise sustainability and wellbeing have happier, healthier, and more productive employees who are invested in the success of a company that cares for them. In turn, this translates into a more successful business, which benefits everyone from the top down. Why? Because companies that prioritise employee health and wellbeing experience better engagement from their employees, which results in higher productivity, and reduced staff turnover rates.
An engaged employee is one committed to their employer, identifies with organisational values, and feels satisfied and stimulated by their work; and according to Gallup, only 21% of employees are engaged at work. It stands to reason that higher engagement is associated with reduced absenteeism and higher profitability, and disengaged employees are estimated to cost the global economy nearly $8 trillion in lost productivity.
Staff turnover is estimated to cost employers up to double the employee’s annual salary due to the costs of hiring, onboarding and training, as well as reduced engagement from other employees due to high turnover. According to data from the 2017 National Survey of Employer-sponsored health plans, workplaces that utilised more wellbeing practices experienced an 11% lower rate of staff turnover.
The link between mental health and sustainability in the workplace
Sustainable workplaces balance the wellbeing of their people and the planet with the health of their balance books. In model workplaces, employee mental health and sustainability are closely linked with the prioritisation of work-life alignment, opportunities for stress and burnout management and mental health support. As a result, these businesses are more likely for their employees to feel more supported and valued.
A survey by the American Psychological Association found that employees who feel valued report higher satisfaction, engagement, and motivation. The same survey found that those that feel supported are significantly less likely to look for a new employer. According to the APA, the winner in this turnover is likely to be employers with sustainable workplaces, with 81% of workers agreeing that finding an employer who supports mental health is an important factor in future job searches.
On the other hand, stressful, unsupportive work environments are associated with burnout, anxiety, and depression, which in turn is associated with higher staff turnover, poor performance and reduced profitability.
How mental health apps for employees can improve workplace sustainability and wellbeing
Mental health apps for employees have emerged as a novel solution to improving workplace well-being. These apps provide employees with tools and resources to manage mental health issues while offering convenience, privacy and comfort. Large-scale research has shown that mental health apps in the workplace can improve indicators of stress, wellbeing and resilience after 4 weeks of use and had sustained results at 6 weeks.
Employers can implement mental health apps for employees by providing access to existing apps, many of which have corporate pricing plans. An alternative option is to work with a developer to create a customised app. Employers can assist further by promoting app use through company communications and providing employees with incentives for using them.
Mental health apps for employees can improve workplace sustainability and wellbeing with features such as:
1. Stress and anxiety management
This includes tools and exercises such as guided meditations, breathing exercises, and cognitive-behavioural therapy techniques. This can include AI chat tools that use evidence-based techniques such as CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing to build mental resilience.
2. Sleep improvement
Sleep underpins multiple aspects of good health. Sleep tracking tools and relaxation exercises can aid good quality sleep, which in turn is associated with reduced stress and enhanced overall wellbeing.
3. Employee engagement
An important aspect of sustainable workplaces is social connection and community building. Mental health apps can provide employees with opportunities to connect and take part in shared activities such as wellness challenges and social events.
4. Goal setting
Mental health apps can help employees set mental health goals such as reducing stress. The ability to visually track their progress can give users a sense of accomplishment and further motivation.
Empower your workforce
Sustainability and wellbeing are crucial in the modern workplace. Companies that prioritise mental health have happier, valued employees and these employers can expect higher levels of engagement, productivity, profitability, and reduced costs.
Mental health apps for employees have emerged as one potential solution to improving workplace sustainability and wellbeing, and there are many other options to explore including workplace training for employees, managers and senior leaders.
As the demand for virtual mental health services increases, mental health provisions for employees will become increasingly valuable as they will provide your workforce with a suite of tools to manage, nurture and support their mental health - and in turn, their energy, motivation and productivity.
Remy Daroowala is a freelance writer based in Cape Town. Originally trained as a doctor, he has worked in the UK and rural hospitals in South Africa. He has published research for Imperial College London, the University of Cape Town, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Remy has a passion for writing about mindfulness and mental health. He is interested in exploring new ideas within his field, particularly those that bridge the mind-body divide that often exists within modern healthcare. From his own personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, Remy has developed a consistent practice of mindfulness and other attention-based practices.