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How would you rate your mental health today on a scale of one to 10? One being in crisis and 10 being incredible.
It’s likely that very few of us would rate ourselves at the top end, and this is partly why most employers are putting more focus on – and resources into – employee mental health and its link to productivity and profit.
In the UK, 31% of citizens are at high risk for mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and addiction and 42% have a moderate risk, according to a recent Mental Health Index by TELUS Health. Additionally, missing work due to stress or mental illness is projected to cost the UK economy billions annually in lost productivity.
These statistics have obvious negative implications for the people behind the numbers. But without proper management, employers and our society at large, too, stand to suffer.
“Not only is it the right thing to do to support employee wellbeing, but it’s crucial for the success of businesses,” says Paula Allen, global leader, research and client insights, TELUS Health.
What challenges do employers face implementing effective solutions?
While most employers recognise that supporting employee health is non-negotiable, it’s essential that the chosen solutions provide employees with tailored support and ease of access.
Tailored support is key because where someone sits on the mental health continuum varies from one employee to the next – and often from one day to the next. “A continuum of care means that every person at every point has access to the right type and level of care for them,” says Allen. Critically, tailored support is also essential for prevention, as it allows employees to receive support before they reach crisis level – helping them build resilience, and keeping them at work.
In addition to the importance of supporting employees where they are on the continuum, Allen also stresses the need for a single front door into a system of care, emphasising the challenges employers and employees face managing a multitude of services.
“Both employees and employers have made it clear that the fragmentation of counselling and behavioural health services creates problems of confusion, frustration and undue gaps in support,” she says. “When we address fragmentation, we improve service, adoption and health outcomes.”
The good news is that employers are well positioned to play a leading role in supporting employee health. The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer found that employees want employers to model healthy work-life boundaries, and expect them to support and protect their wellbeing. In fact, more than a third of British workers want more wellbeing support.
An organisation answers the call
As a recognised global health and wellbeing leader, TELUS Health is a trusted partner in the workplace health space, working with organisations around the world to enhance the total wellbeing of employees and their families, and providing services that support physical, financial and mental health.
TELUS Health entered the health care space nearly 15 years ago to revolutionise the way people access and interact with health care services. In 2022 they acquired the leading employee assistance program (EAP) and pension and benefits provider LifeWorks in order to better serve employers with an enhanced portfolio of services designed to support total employee wellbeing.
Holistic mental health support for today’s employees
TELUS Health offers a one-stop shop for employers looking to support total wellbeing across the continuum of care – providing support for employees that is tailored, integrated, and accessible.
Their advanced EAP provides employees with custom mental health support that is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Access to counselling can be unlimited – and is available through whatever medium the employee prefers: in-person, virtually, over the phone, or through chat.
In addition to mental health support, employees can also receive financial and legal support, and relationship and family counselling. The service is also available in multiple languages to assist employees anywhere in the world.
“Our services and programs ensure employees and their families get the care and support they need, when they need it, in the most efficient way”, says Allen.
Global expertise
The company is trusted by employers and HR leaders like Tatiana Mututantri at Motorola. When speaking about why Motorola chose TELUS Health, she emphasises the insights the solution provides: “Our employees benefit from structured guidance and advice, and we benefit from understanding which of our populations need more support. The support and collaboration with our TELUS Health team has helped us understand the data, provide insights, and enables us to tailor employee training to each country, providing the most relevant, valued support to our employees.”
Powered by employees and a diverse network of thousands of healthcare professionals, TELUS Health combines the strength of its team with the power of technology to deliver results for organisations, covering 67 million lives around the globe in 160 countries.
