April 11, 2024

How to make mental health apps work for your workforce.

Are digital mental health solutions effective? That might depend on how employers are putting them to work.

Employers are increasingly providing digital behavioral health solutions as part of their total benefits packages — a trend backed by research showing technology-mediated mindfulness reduces stress, anxiety and depression.

But, with more than 10,000 well-being apps on the market, it can be difficult for benefits leaders to cut through the noise to determine which digital health solutions will drive the most value for their organizations.

This begs the question: How can employers implement digital solutions to achieve those positive mental health outcomes?

The answer is to go beyond the app.

Employers should not treat a digital solution as an isolated offering, but rather as an opportunity to complement or scale broader mental health efforts. Providing a mental health app without addressing underlying workplace mental health culture is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm.

However, digital health solutions providers can serve as thought partners, supporting business leaders in their efforts to target the causes of mental health issues and drive cultural change. Many offer extensive mental health resources, dedicated support teams and custom assessments to gather insights and inform priorities.

On Thursday, April 18, at 2 p.m. ET, the Health Action Alliance and Mental Health America are hosting a virtual workshop to share ways to integrate digital solutions with existing well-being programs, and to help HR professionals create their own rubrics for vetting and selecting providers. Learn more and register to join the live event.

In the meantime, get a head start by conducting a workforce mental health assessment to gain a clear picture of your organization’s needs and priorities.

Check out HAA’s mental health assessment guide to learn how.

‍