6 mental health apps for work in 2024

Poor mental health is a serious crisis facing Americans, and America’s employers urgently need to identify and prioritize a solution.

More than 50 million Americans deal with mental health issues each year, according to a recent USA Today study.

Anxiety tops the list as the most reported mental health concern, which is understandable, given the state of the economy and the unstable nature of the workforce. Widespread layoffs, combined with the rising cost of living, job uncertainty, mounting debt and concern over international crises and events such as the war in Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, are driving millions of Americans into anxiety and depression, with the latter appearing as the second most commonly reported mental illness.

But unfortunately, more than half of that number—a shocking 28 million Americans—are not receiving treatment to support their mental health.

Among the reasons for this, cost was the most cited factor.

Aside from affordability, some of the other causes for these people not getting the help they need to maintain their mental health include:

• Not knowing where to ask for help
• Believing they can handle it on their own
• Not enough time to focus on your mental health

Mental Health at Work

The shocking conclusions of this study highlight, more than ever, the serious responsibility that rests on employers.

Interestingly, low-income mothers with depression were found to be at greater risk of absenteeism from work, according to a 2023 peer-reviewed medical study, while flexible work policies and granting greater work autonomy (such as part-time, remote work). , and stopping the practice of micromanagement) was shown to positively impact workplace productivity and performance.

As a leader or manager, any member of your team could be part of the 50 million who struggle with their mental health, or even worse, the 28 million who do not receive mental health support.

It’s up to you to actively support them, through a strong mental health and wellbeing strategy, mental health care days and embedding daily practices throughout your work processes and routines to ensure all employees feel supported, regardless of their condition. You need to create a psychologically safe space for team members to feel free to speak up and not suffer in silence, and that includes paying attention to pay policies and flexible work arrangements.

Aside from these solutions, encouraging the use of mental health apps is one way to provide mental health support, as they put the power to enable wellness at your team members’ fingertips, literally. They help remove the barrier of “lack of time” to maintain mental health.

However, it is essential to remember that empowering your employees with mental health apps is not a substitute for actual therapy or professional counseling, but can help them deal with minor issues and complement the support they receive from a mental health professional .

Mental health applications

1. Header spacethis is one of the most popular apps for meditation, sleep and stress reduction.
2. BetterHelp Therapywith this app, you can access video calls and live chat with a personal therapist, after completing some basic questions.
3. Insight Timerfree app that offers access to a library of thousands of guided meditations, live events, courses and calming music. Some of the features are not free.
4. take it easyfor guided meditations and sleep stories.
5. change of mindThis is an evidence-based CBT therapy app to help manage anxiety.
6. UCLA Mindful appoffers mindfulness exercises from UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center.

How to encourage employees to use mental health apps

Encouraging and supporting employee mental health benefits you in the long run as an employer. It increases productivity, reduces sick days and contributes to an overall positive work environment.

Here are some effective strategies you can use to engage your team members and motivate them to use mental health apps:

1. Organize training sessions

You can organize workshops or training sessions to educate employees about the importance of taking care of their mental health and the benefits of using mental health apps, using external experts or using internal trainers. Use this as an opportunity to inform them and even take them through the features and functionality of the different apps available.

2. Offer subsidized subscriptions

Discounts, subsidized memberships, and even including a membership as part of your benefits package in addition to EAPs (employee assistance programs) can help remove financial barriers that your employees may face. face when seeking mental health support.

3. Personalized 1-2-1 support with manager

Weekly or monthly performance reviews and appraisals are excellent opportunities not only to discuss an employee’s physical and external performance, but also to check in with them on how they feel about their workload (especially in roles high pressure and stress), and what support they may need from you or the company.

You can use this as an opportunity to provide personalized recommendations for mental health apps and activities that fit their lifestyle and goals, while reinforcing the existing support available through the EAP and other offerings.

Show your employees that you really care about them by making their well-being your priority. As Simon Sinek once said, “Our employees are human beings, not just civil servants.”