World Mental Health Day 2024: How Technology can Help

Today is World Mental Health Day - a day for education and awareness of mental wellbeing. A public reminder for all 8 billion of us to stop and take stock of our health and that of those close to us.

One quarter of people will experience a mental health problem each year, with 20% of people experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety or depression) in any given week, according to mental health charity Mind. 

Technology can sometimes be blamed for poor mental health, from doom scrolling to bullying. Yet many healthcare leaders argue that modern technology offers enormous opportunities to support our mental health, from Mental Wellbeing Apps to creating individualised patient care. 

Simple strategies for employers and employees to foster mental wellness in the workplace

Mark Malis, Vice President of Global Employee Experiences at Netwrix, previously spoke with Healthcare Digital to discuss how businesses could better support employee mental health. According to Malis, organisations and senior-level management need to encourage their employees to do small, yet meaningful actions in order to promote positive mental health, such as: 

• Eating healthily
• Exercising
• Finding time to call a friend
• Taking 15 minutes in the day to meditate and create calm
• Taking the dog for a walk 

“These are all simple, yet extremely valuable mechanisms to bring good balance into the day,” said Malis. “Managers can also stimulate positive mental health by sending supportive emails by thanking their employees for good work they have done and acknowledging key achievements. This can be achieved by encouraging team members to enjoy their weekend free time and to express that they truly look forward to engaging with them again in the new week ahead.”

Find out more in our Top 10 Best Workplaces for Wellbeing.

Tackling the loneliness epidemic, with technology bridging the gap in mental health support

A study by Mind found that the lack of personal contact and loneliness during the pandemic contributed to a huge rise in the severity of mental health challenges. 

Yet it’s clear that the epidemic of loneliness didn’t subside after the lockdown restrictions were lifted. The World Economic Forum found that chronic loneliness impacts up to one million more people in the UK than pre-pandemic. 

Laura Morrill, Investment Director at ECI Partners, spoke to Healthcare Digital to discuss how the process of accessing mental health support can often pose a huge barrier to those seeking help. 

“People struggling with mental health issues often have to fill out forms and stick to strict appointment timetables that the system requires, for example. This can lead those in need of support to fall through the safety net, something that creates inefficiencies in the system and that ultimately leads to poor outcomes for patients,” shared Morrill. 

She argues that technology can provide simple fixes. For example, scheduling software can be implemented to remind a patient of their appointment with a ‘day-of’ text. 

“Other innovations within the space include a HIPAA-compliant Zoom service which grants practices compliant video technology and treatment monitoring capabilities that can help patients to keep track of their medication and next steps in their care plan.”

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