The compelling new evidence behind low intensity workplace support

Welcome to the first in a series of monthly newsletters that continue the research conducted for my second book, 'A Work In Progress'.

Workplace wellbeing platforms, apps and content libraries have come under huge scrutiny over the past few years, not least of all by me. Eighty-three percent of UK employers say they used a wellbeing app to help their employees during the crisis, but downloading our way to better wellbeing at work is challenging as it seems tech development is outpacing the science.

In the UK, many consumers have turned to digital health to take the pressure off the healthcare system and seek help while trying to avoid in-person contact during the pandemic. In 2022, just under half of Brits say they have used a health app – an increase of nine percent since 2021. Of those who have used such apps, 84 percent say they found them to be ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ helpful. But interestingly, very few found or used these apps because of their employer. Most digital health app users found the app themselves, had it recommended to them by a friend or family member, or was encouraged to download it by a healthcare professional such as a GP, nurse, pharmacist, or hospital doctor.

“Given the current state of the research, clinicians may wish to 
consider cautiously incorporating apps as an adjunct to treatment 
or recommending apps to clients."
-?Joyce H. L. Lui, David K. Marcus, and Christopher T. Barry, 
Washington State University
        

Whatever your opinion, the abundance of wellbeing apps available to people is fulfilling a requirement outside of the workplace, so their future within organisations is probably quite solid. The new dispersed global workforce and the ever-changing diversity of needs among the workforce mean I do think there is a place for wellbeing tech in the modern organisation. The pandemic highlighted the considerable opportunity for mental health apps to support the State and healthcare professionals with rising patient numbers and make care pathways more accessible to millions of employees.?In the UK, with state support fading with every year that goes by, the only way for an employer to intervene is to replace those ways their people used to get support, and for many technology will be one of the few ways to successfully do that.

For those interested in offering workplace wellbeing tech, there is a growing body of rather compelling evidence that shows the impact of getting people to move more and rest more.

Mindfulness better than CBT for treating depression, study finds

Practising mindfulness?is much better than taking part in talking therapies at helping people recover from depression, a British study has found.

"People who used a mindfulness self-help book for eight weeks and 
had six sessions with a counsellor experienced a 17.5% greater 
improvement in recovery from depressive symptoms than those who 
underwent?cognitive behavioural therapy?(CBT) while being supported 
by a mental health practitioner."        

This is interesting for employers because mindfulness is (according to the research here) not only is “significantly” more effective than CBT, its cheaper too.

Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths

One of the most historic ways employers have been involved in the wellbeing of their people has been their pursuit of better physical health. Getting people to see doctors as quickly as they can, encouraging healthier lifestyles and and practicing prevention. And more new research shows that employers encouraging low intensity interventions like walking or running can have a significant impact.

Doing some exercise is better than doing nothing, the researchers from the University of Cambridge say. The research team looked at hundreds of previous studies on the benefits of physical activity and concluded that even just doing half the recommended amount could prevent one in 20 cases of cardiovascular disease and nearly one in 30 cases of cancer. That equates to 75 minutes per week - or 11 minutes per day - riding a bike, walking fast, hiking, dancing or playing tennis.

You can read more about the best ways to create an organisation centred on employee wellbeing and the benefits of doing so by reading the bestselling book 'A Work In Progress: Unlocking Wellbeing to Create More Sustainable and Resilient Organisations'.

“In a post-pandemic world, employers face a new level of complexity 
in the wellbeing and engagement space.?Gethin’s narrative gives both 
the new and the advanced reader opportunities to navigate these vast 
topics with a balanced perspective of theory and business reality, 
enabling all to consider their strategies and build a more inclusive 
approach."
- Dr Andrea Kilgour, HR Director, EE
        

Available for ￡7.99 on Amazon globally.