Companies could save $30m by integrating AI and wellbeing

Globally, one in eight people live with a mental health disorder, with anxiety and depression being the most common, according to the World Health Organization.

But what impact does this have on the workplace?

Well, the Health and Safety Executive found that more than half of all work-related illnesses are from poor mental health accounts, with around 51% of long-term sick leave being due to stress, depression, or anxiety.

In the UK alone, this was found to cost the economy £28 billion each year.

So, it’s clear – mental health not only impacts individuals but business’s bottom lines, too.

Although these findings shouldn’t come as a surprise, there’s still no magical wand that employers can wave to rid employees of mental health challenges. However, AI might offer the closest alternative.

In an exclusive interview with UNLEASH, Jo Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Wysa, a global leader in AI mental health support, shares how businesses can leverage technologies to boost employees’ mental health.

How can AI help businesses tackle mental health issues in the workplace?

Before we delve into how AI can improve mental health in the workplace, let’s first reflect on the traditional methods.

Deloitte’s research highlights that many workplace mental health initiatives are ineffective, primarily due to a lack of proper measurement and evaluation – meaning they’re often found to be insufficient.

On the other hand, AI-based solutions for mental health offer stigma-free, anonymous, and constantly accessible alternatives, according to Wysa. AI also provides personalized, clinically validated resources which are typically preferred by employees over traditional human interaction.

Aggarwal explains that this is because they are “scalable and discrete, breaking barriers associated with discussing mental health”. Additionally, they don’t rely on individuals presenting themselves to seek support. Still, they are available as both a preventative measure and one to manage risk, bridging the gap between wellbeing solutions and clinical intervention.

AI apps have shown remarkable results, with users experiencing significant reductions in depression symptoms in a short time,” Aggarwal says.

“These tools not only improve wellbeing but also lead to cost savings for employers through reduced absenteeism and increased productivity. They support individuals at every stage of the journey, providing personalized and tailored care to ensure everyone gets access to what they need when they need it.”

She explains that AI in mental health management incorporates crisis escalation features, with human support triggered by AI conversation analysis, mood tracking, and emergency buttons.

Therefore, when offering anonymous, aggregated health data, employers and healthcare organizations gain insights into the effectiveness of interventions, enabling them to allocate resources more effectively and provide support where it is most needed.

Access to support everywhere, anytime with AI

It’s no wonder so many employees suffer from mental health issues – the workplace is a minefield for the: Demanding workloads; isolating work hours and location; workplace bullying; exposure to trauma; work inspection pressures; returning to work after extended sick or caregiving leave; and not to mention, the lack of management mental health training.

But luckily, 2024 will be the year all the above-mentioned benefits of AI will be utilized to better mental health, both in healthcare and in the corporate world.

“Wysa is working with some of the world’s biggest employers to enable them to deliver AI-stepped mental health care to their teams,” Aggarwal highlights.

“Employee Assistance Programs are becoming more common, but only 3% of employees take them up, despite one-third of people having moderate to severe anxiety or depression, twice the reported prevalence.”

This can be due to several factors, including stigma, or a lack of support and time.

However, Wysa research found that 35% of individuals are most stressed the night before they start their working week, and 4 in 10 struggle in the middle of the night. As these are times when traditional support isn’t available, digital support enables individuals to always have access to the right tools.

It makes financial sense too,” Aggarwal adds. “A company of 50,000 people could save US$30 million a year by integrating AI-guided mental health support into their wellbeing package, through increased productivity, reduced presenteeism and absenteeism, and associated reductions in healthcare costs.

“We predict the integration of AI in mental health as a balanced approach, combining traditional human methods with digital channels for risk measurement and management will be the way forward for most employers.

She added: “This strategy leads to a safer, healthier, and more productive society – that is better for everyone.”