A shift to digital tech to improve mental health care
While the global health industry grapples with challenges like increased chronic disease and aging populations, there is a significant shift to advanced digital technology to improve mental health care. A rising number of innovators and developers are venturing into the mental health space, vowing to make high-quality mental health care more accessible, and provide patients with wider choice and greater flexibility. One such company is Sweden’s KRY, known as LIVI outside the Nordics, which launched its digital psychology service in March 2018. Since, there have been mental health, counselling and therapy apps flourishing, with more and more people finding it easier and more affordable to get help through them.
More employers plan to invest in sleep programs for employees
In the United States, several companies are in the process of making sleep programs, checkups and sleep coaching available to their employees. The work sector sees many employees who are sleep deprived, relying heavily on caffeine to power through their workloads. By employing sleep coaching and programs, companies stand to benefit from increased productivity, and reduced healthcare spending, as getting sufficient sleep every night is tied to better overall health in the long run.
More people would choose mental health support at work over money, study finds
According to new research, more people would take a pay cut if more mental health support was made available in the workplace. The survey from Morneau Shepell found that six-in-10 Canadian workers would do that. Senior Vice President of Research, Analytics, and Innovation at Morneau Shepell Paula Allen was quoted saying, “We’ve known for a while that well-being support is something that employees value, and value a great deal. What we tested in this survey, though, is really how much are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?” The findings were overwhelming. Three-in-four people said they’d consider leaving their employer, based on how the company supports its employees’ mental health. As for taking a pay cut, it was noted that participants were willing to take 10 per cent less. This goes to show that people work to make their lives better, and finances are only a part of that.
