#233 - Mental Health Technology

Work-related stress, inflation, and other changes in the economic climate have led to an increase in the number of patients with mental health problems worldwide. It is estimated that employee depression and anxiety disorders in the global workplace result in an estimated 12 billion lost work days or 50 million lost work years each year, at an economic cost of approximately $1 trillion. As a result, many employers are increasingly recognizing employee mental health as a critical issue.

 

In this report, we examine four mental health technologies: diagnosis and detection, therapy and coaching, telemedicine, and workload management. We also look at how leading companies such as Uniliver and Microsoft are using technology to support the mental health of their employees. In the future, technologies such as AI chatbots, virtual reality (VR), and brain-computer interfaces (BCI) could be used to treat mental health. Ultimately, however, technology is only a means to an end, and employers are expected to create a culture and psychologically safe workplace where employees can openly discuss their own mental health.