The New York Times recently published a study by an Oxford researcher that found that workplace wellness programs have little benefit; specifically, mental health interventions have almost no impact. I am not surprised by the results. There has been something very tasteless about the deluge of new technology solutions that have flooded the market post-COVID, which have sought to target mental health issues. They all promised an elegant solution to a highly complex problem, which has almost seemed predatory, as they target vulnerable consumers who are struggling. What has exacerbated the problem are well-meaning employers who have chosen to offer these solutions to their employees as part of their benefits package. By no means am I an expert in the field, but I have enough common sense to know that the fast food style in which these solutions try to address mental health issues is likely only to make the situation worse. Someone's mental health is the culmination of a lot of different factors, and the solution cannot reside in the very device that is the source of a lot of today's issues - the phone. My request to employers is to not waste their resources on these solutions. Instead, if they genuinely care about helping their employees with their mental health, do it by assisting them in building the one thing that has worked throughout human history - a community. The study found that employees benefited far more from being involved in volunteer activities or other things where they felt like they were making an impact and connecting with others. While it sounds corny, it is very much true that people want to feel like they are part of a bigger "something" and that what they do is making a difference. At the end of the day, the solution lies in finding ways to help them connect with one another rather than with another app on their phone.
Comments