The Working Well

The digital age, plus a global pandemic, has thrust employee mental health into the spotlight, with US corporate spending on mental health resources skyrocketing in recent years. This explosive growth has placed employers at the forefront of personal well-being. Organizations are offering comprehensive mental health support to employees in an effort to maintain operational efficiency. Happy employee, happy life! But employers are likely the last person a person would go to for mental health support, so are these resources really being utilized enough to justify the cost? To ensure more engagement, employers are leveraging technology in new ways, including AI-driven early intervention tools, virtual reality for stress management, and 24/7 chatbot support systems. Tech won’t solve all our problems though, more work needs to be done in destigmatizing mental health discussions, ensuring equitable access to resources, and adapting to rapidly evolving workplace dynamics. High-tech plus high-touch plus a bit more realism on what employees actually want may just be the way to a well workforce!