The pandemic has created what could be considered the ‘perfect storm’ for the deterioration of our mental health.
Alarmingly, since the start of the pandemic studies suggest 42% of employees have reported a decline in their mental health. This will only continue to be exacerbated unless we strive towards making our mental health and wellbeing an urgent priority.
The wellness-first workplace
For employers, it’s been widely acknowledged that a reduction in the wellbeing of your workforce can be linked to an increase in burn out and fatigue; alongside increased absenteeism, presenteeism and ultimately a loss of productivity.
In a 2021 survey, it was reported:
67%
of all workers believe burnout has worsened over the course of the pandemic.
Burnt out employees
are:
63%
more likely to take a sick day and 2.6 times as likely to be actively seeking a different job.
Employees are calling for more engagement:
40%
are less likely to change jobs if their employer promotes or sponsors digital health solutions.
As further reports are released to strengthen this correlation, many organisations are now actively looking to address the US$1 trillion-dollar question – how do we improve the mental health and wellbeing of our workforce? Furthermore, how can we ensure that our response will remain effective given we are still in the early stages of adapting to new modes of working?
How do we improve the mental health and wellbeing of our workforce?
According to a recent study released by Future Workplace, Boston University and Lyra Health, the past twelve months has brought with it a polarising shift in workplace priorities.
In 2020, the HR Sentiment Survey reported that the top HR priorities consisted of employee experience, followed by leadership development, learning transformation, next-generation leaders and people analytics. Fast forward twelve months and these have been replaced by employee wellbeing/mental health, followed by DEI, leadership development, employee experience and managing remote workers.
Strategic Priorities for the Future of HR
| 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Employee experience | Employee wellbeing / mental health |
| Leadership development | DEI |
| Learning transformation | Leadership development |
| Next-generation leaders | Employee experience |
| People Analytics | Managing remote workers |
Mental wellbeing tools, in your employee’s pockets
Co-scripted with Deakin University’s School of Psychology, wellteq has developed a series of mental health and wellbeing programs including Mind-your-step and Mind-your-stress.
Grounded by the principles of Cognitive behavioural therapy, both programs have been designed exclusively for organisations looking to provide their staff with additional support and education around mental health and self-care. Throughout the 4-week duration, the program provides employees with a series of actionable steps developed to address the behaviours associated with stress, anxiety and depression.
Hosted and delivered via the wellteq app, upon completion program participants will have an enhanced level of knowledge and know-how on topics such as:
- Understanding the relationship between mind and body
- Building mental resilience to overcome adversity
- Sharpening focus and maintaining clarity
- Recognising signs of anxiety, burnout and depression
And will derive benefit through an experience that offers:
- Further development in positive health habits
- Improved physical conditioning
- Increased mental clarity and coping ability
- A nurtured and health-orientated bond with colleagues
Furthermore, the app’s ability to integrate to an organisations’ preferred EAP provider via a direct click-to-call function ensures employees have accessible, on-demand access to the next level of care.
Introducing wellteq’s mental health programs
Co-scripted with Deakin University’s School of Psychology, our mental health programs present actionable education across stress, anxiety and depression.
