Employers spend millions of dollars on programs to improve employees’ mental health, although the effects of those programs are not always clear.
At least one program is working, a new peer-reviewed study suggests.
Posted in JAMA Network Open on June 9the study found that nearly 70 percent of participants in workplace programs developed by New York startups experienced improved mental health spring healthThe study also found that companies saved money using spring health plans, a factor that is likely to become more important as employers face inflation and other financial pressures in the coming months.
The study surveyed 1,132 people who used the Spring Health platform to address anxiety or depression between January 2018 and January 2021. Of those who disclosed their gender, nearly three-quarters, or 71.8 percent, were women. About three-fifths, or 57.8 percent, were white. The average age was 32.9 years.
69.3% of participants saw an improvement in their mental health as a result of interventions arranged through Spring Health. The study also found that participants missed fewer work days and were more productive, saving an average of $7,000 per participant.
Additionally, employees in the study were 60% less likely to leave, a key consideration for employers during times of high turnover.
Founded in 2016, Spring Health uses machine learning algorithms to predict which treatments will work for which individual. The company then matches people to the right resource, whether it’s a psychiatrist, prescription drugs, or other interventions. According to Adam Chekroud, co-founder and president of Spring Health, it has more than 800 clients, mostly large employers.
Chekroud and other Spring Health employees are co-authors of the study. The three co-authors are solely affiliated with Yale University. Given the diversity of approaches among various startups, the results may not apply to other mental health startups, he said.
“I think employers are getting more and more aware of this, especially with the market and the economy tightening,” Adam Checrude said in an interview. “There will be more scrutiny on whether the money they spend is paying off. It’s important that companies buy what works”
While the results may not apply to other competing products, a slew of mental health tech companies—whether BetterHelp, NeuroFlow, Octave, Pyx Health, and Talkspace — make technology tools work in behavioral healthcare. Chekroud believes the research helps set a precedent for the entire industry.
Given the damage the pandemic has taken on our collective mental health, the need for help from employees is likely to continue even as the economy slows, he added.according to A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management this year78% of employers offer or plan to offer mental health benefits in the next year.
“With or without a recession, mental health problems are not going away,” he said.
According to the SHRM survey, the vast majority of HR professionals (94%) believe these programs improve the overall health of employees. Nearly nine in 10, or 88 percent, believe these programs can increase productivity.
There are many programs to choose from.Over the past few years, investors have poured millions into startups promising improvements Mental Health By utilizing high-tech tools. However, observers question how effective these tools are and whether they can overcome issues with access to care and reimbursement.
Photo: metamorworks, Getty Images
