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Technology has the potential to revolutionize numerous areas of the healthcare sector, including mental health. From innovative apps to virtual therapy platforms, the marriage of technology and mental health support has ushered in a new era of accessible and personalized care.
As society shifts toward promoting mental well-being, it's important for business leaders to explore how technology can augment and enhance mental healthcare. Below, 20 Forbes Human Resources Council members share ways tech tools can be used to reshape mental health support to make it more inclusive, responsive and effective.
1. Outline Company Benefits And Streamline Resources In Intranets
Technology can enhance the accessibility of mental healthcare in many ways. Employer intranets outlining company benefits not only streamline resources but also eliminate potentially hard conversations for employees in need. Apps and websites offer an array of solutions, including telehealth consultations, mindfulness modules and asynchronous communication with mental health professionals. - Neepa Patel, WellRight
2. Tailor Music Therapy To Stimulate Emotional Healing
With one of our strategic partners, we have seamlessly integrated mental health technology and music therapy to enhance MH support. We leveraged the capabilities of technology, individuals can now engage in music therapy tailored precisely to their unique needs. This approach stimulates emotional healing, encourages self-discovery and contributes significantly to overall mental well-being. - Misha Ford, 3TG Staffing Solutions
3. Access Technological Support Discreetly
By making support readily available through technology, people can seek help discreetly, without the fear of judgment or social stigma. This approach not only improves access to care but also contributes to the destigmatization of mental health issues, encouraging more open and honest conversations about mental well-being. Technology facilitates immediate access to mental health support and care. - Jade Nikolaou, SecondMuse
4. Assess Personal Data To See Happiness And Stress Levels At Work
Technology—through apps, fitness trackers and so on—gives us access to our own data, which, if we’re mindful, we can use to assess our happiness, creativity, focus, stress and even satisfaction at work. Over time, by paying attention to trends in our behavior and environment, we can understand times when we’re thriving and times when we need extra support. - Ursula Mead, InHerSight
5. Match With A Suitable Mentor Using Mentoring Software
Mentoring technology makes it easier for employees to get matched with a suitable mentor and find mental health support. When mentor-mentee pairings are driven by technology, it takes the awkwardness out of "asking" for mentorship from a senior executive or a team lead. With the right mentoring software, employees can get matched based on skills they want to learn or goals they want to achieve. - Matthew Reeves, Together Software
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6. Build A Personal Connection With Your Employees First
Using technology to remove the stigma of mental health challenges and create a secure environment of trust is a first step. Communicating how to access the needed support, opening PTO for mental health days and embracing a holistic approach to supporting employee wellness. Multiple apps and tech environments have bloomed in recent years, but building personal connections with people is key to supporting mental health. - Julie Hankins, NNIT
7. Use Video Calls To See People
Using video calls to see people and feel comfortable reaching out to anyone, anywhere, any time at a minimal cost immersed in calming music. - Reema Akhtar, Seer Solutions
8. Create Online Communities For People To Share Experiences
Technology can help create online communities of like-minded individuals who can provide mutual support, anonymity and resources and increase accessibility. These online communities can allow individuals to connect and share their experiences and coping strategies. Peer support can reduce feelings of isolation and provide a sense of belonging, understanding and validation. - Kshitij Jain, Joveo
9. Track And Encourage Time Off To Recharge
Our research found that 87% of workers globally have experienced burnout in the past year, which shows the need to prioritize well-being. One way to use technology to offer support is to track time off. If you notice certain employees aren’t taking time to recharge, you can nudge them towards a vacation. If you see a broader trend, it’s a signal to reassess your time off policies and work processes. - Susan Tohyama, Ceridian
10. Provide Resources Like Mental Health Coaches And Movement Challenges
At our company, we prioritize well-being, including mental health. We leverage technology to put both resources and challenges in our colleagues’ hands so that they always have available access to things like mental health coaches, movement challenges and healthcare navigation support. We can nudge them to use resources at the right times or they can engage any time they choose. - Dave Barnett, DeVry University
11. Break Barriers And Connect Patients Using Teletherapy
Teletherapy breaks barriers, connecting patients with therapists via video, phone or chat. Flexible, accessible and resourceful, it eases the path to mental healthcare, crucial at a time when connecting with the right professional can be daunting which in of itself can be a good excuse to ever get help. The ease of access and convenience is helping to save lives. - William Stonehouse, Crawford Thomas Recruiting
12. Set Up A Meeting To Use Apps Like Headspace Or Calm
There are many apps out there now that employees should be encouraged to use and give themselves a break during the day. We should encourage employees to set a time on their calendar, daily or weekly, and use apps, such as Headspace or the Calm app, to recharge and reset their day. If employees can set up a work-related meeting, then setting up a meeting to care for themselves should be equally important. - Heather Smith, Flimp Communications
13. Provide Adaptable And Individualized Mental Health Support
Emerging technologies offer the ability to provide adaptable and individualized mental health support, which has naturally led to their demand. Ethical issues arise when technology causes a decrease in human connection, HR efficiency, data privacy or security. Challenges, such as finding a happy medium between evidence, regulatory frameworks and HR compliance, must be addressed by businesses. - Dr. Nara Ringrose, Cyclife Aquila Nuclear
14. Consider Lifestyle Spending Accounts For Wellness Solutions
I'm a fan of lifestyle spending accounts or LSAs. In my experience, an LSA can provide the widest variety of wellness solutions from meditation apps to gym stipends. It's inclusive because each person can choose what they need when they need it and the list of offerings keeps growing. Users determine what is best for their wellness, which matters since no single approach is right for everyone. - Mikaela Kiner, Reverb
15. Implement Chat Technology To Create A Safe Space To Check In
Employees need to feel seen and heard, and one way to connect with them to ensure they feel this no matter where you work is to connect through technology. Chat technology can create a safe space to check in on your employees, in a one-on-one fashion. Finally, reducing how many emails and reminders tech employees receive supports their mental health. - Cat Colella-Graham
16. Create Safe, Controlled Environments For Employees
Leveraging virtual reality (VR) in mental healthcare is transformative. VR's immersive nature can create safe, controlled environments, enabling individuals to confront and work through their fears or traumas under professional guidance. This tech-aided approach marries traditional therapy with innovative engagement, heralding a new era of personalized care that's both effective and captivating. - Joseph Soares, IBPROM Corp.
17. Offer Meditation, Teletherapy And Mood Tracking
Technology can bolster mental health through apps for meditation, teletherapy and mood tracking. This provides people with accessible tools for self-care and fosters well-being. - MJ Vigil, DispatchHealth
18. Offer Apps With Immediate Access To Mental Health Resources
Apps that offer immediate access to mental health resources and support and allow people to find help regardless of where they are, the time of day or even the level of the situation are critical. Reaching someone who can quickly determine if the person is in imminent danger or just needs some support can be a powerful tool in supporting mental well-being. - Lisa Shuster, iHire
19. Leverage Teletherapy Platforms For Remote Sessions
Leveraging technology, teletherapy platforms enable mental health professionals to provide remote counseling sessions. From a practical standpoint, this ensures care accessibility irrespective of location. Academically, studies confirm that teletherapy can be as effective as in-person sessions, expanding reach while maintaining care quality. - Hassan Choughari, Jaroudi Group
20. Integrate Virtual Reality Therapy To Confront Fears
Integrate virtual reality (VR) therapy. VR therapy creates immersive environments for individuals to confront fears and manage anxieties, offering innovative exposure-based treatments. Employers can provide access, training and private spaces, ensuring confidentiality and integrating VR therapy with existing mental health programs for effective employee support. - Kelsey Griffis, InfoTrack US
