Covid-19: Mental health a $20bn dilemma

Workplace mental health programs are ‘no longer fit for purpose’ with psychological conditions due to the pandemic costing billions a year of lost productivity.

A new report has found only 5 per cent of workers are using employee assistance programs to combat their mental health issues.

Workplace mental health programs are “no longer fit for purpose” with psychological conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic exceeding $20bn a year of lost productivity.

A report by PwC and wellbeing company Sonder says only 5 per cent of workers are using employee assistance programs to combat their mental health issues, with most not aware of how to access the help.

“With so much ongoing change, many existing workplace support systems are no longer fit for purpose,” the report says.

“This is hardly surprising when the very nature of workplaces has changed so much in such a short space of time.

“Employers need to be designing human-centred approaches to offering preventive support and earlier interventions, as well as collecting data insights (while preserving privacy) to inform ongoing effort and investment.”

The report said one in five Australians would experience a mental health “challenge” during their lives.

“We expect this statistic to be exacerbated by a range of pandemic-related factors including isolation, social distancing, restricted movement, sudden job loss, homeschooling and lockdown uncertainty,” the report says. “All of which impacts employee wellbeing and the ability to be productive.

“However, most employees do not use workplace support programs because it is not built into the culture – there is a barrier to access, and a stigma around it.”

The report warns too many workplaces had “one-size-fits-all” models for their mental health support programs “despite a growing expectation for more contemporary services that are better suited to employee needs”.

“Work environments are not the same,” the report says. “Construction and manufacturing workers for example, as well as frontline retail and health workers, find it difficult to leave their workplace to travel to in-person appointments.

“Employees in hybrid working environments also want the flexibility to access care whenever and wherever it’s needed, as well as a variety of entry points and channels to engage with support.

“Web chat functions, web forums, and curated self-help content all offer flexible, easy ways for employees to reach out for support.”

Sonder chief executive Craig Cowdrey used the research to talk up his own company’s workplace digital offering – an app linking employees to medical and mental health resources.

“The real cost of mental health is likely higher than the $20bn estimated,” Mr Cowdrey said. “Mental ill health affects not only an individual, but their entire community of colleagues, friends and family.

“We need to fundamentally change the way we approach supporting our teams through a 21st century, integrated health and wellbeing approach that is available when employees need it.

“For example, 48 per cent of Sonder users request support after hours, and 91 per cent do it over chat. If we can help employers understand and address the barriers, we can help employees break through them.

“When surveys show that more than 50 per cent of frontline doctors don’t know how to access their (employees mental health) service, something has to change.”

Sonder head of member support Jamie Phllips said traditional support services required employees to phone and book an appointment with a counsellor.

“This is the last thing that people needing mental health support feel like doing,” Dr Phillips said. “Today’s tech-savvy generations prefer digital in the first instance because it is less confronting and is available when and where they need it.”