Mental Health Innovation in the Workplace—HackMentalHealth London’s Launch Event
What I learned attending HackMentalHealth London’s inaugural event on December 4th, 2019.
As a medical student, I am privy to the fact that ‘digital’ and ‘technology’ have been buzzwords in healthcare for an extended period of time. And now that society has become more aware of mental health in recent years, more attention is being directed towards the intersection and interplay between mental health and technology, and how technology may be used as a tool for good in the sphere of mental health.
As a result, I was ecstatic to learn that HackMentalHealth was launching a new chapter in London, and this first event aims to discuss just that intersection, particularly the applications of digital solutions to improve mental health in the workplace.
It began with lightning presentations from our three panellists: Kristina Barger, Marcus Gardiner and Zoe Cunningham.
Kristina Barger, a psychotherapist and cognitive therapist, introduced us to the topic of wellness in the workplace and how it has begun to change. Previously, direct contact between staff members facilitated different solutions to wellbeing, in contrast to now, where there is an increase in the number of distance workers and ‘digital nomads’ who rarely, if ever, make face-to-face contact with their colleagues. This is in conjunction with the increasing size and internationalisation of companies, generating the demand for solutions that are able to cross barriers and reach increasingly isolated teams of people.
Introducing some of these solutions was Marcus Gardner, who consolidated the insight of various experts and service providers in digital mental health under via his fellowship with the Winston Churchill Trust.
Finally, Zoe Cunningham (MD of Softwire) introduced Softwire’s novel approach to staff mental health. Staff mental health and wellbeing is truly central to Softwire, evident by the infrastructure they have established including a library on site, a calm room with a whiteboard for messages of support and mental health first aiders among staff who volunteered to receive training under MHFA England.
In the panel event during the second half of the evening, the discussion shifted towards the barriers and caveats to digital mental health. An important point that was brought up was that although there is a vast amount of digital mental health solutions available, there is a variable level of scientific research underpinning them. Furthermore it can be difficult to balance suitability with accessibility - how does one ensure that one is capable of meeting the specific needs of vulnerable individuals whilst ensuring access for all?
Alongside these concerns is the issue of privacy. As with any aspect of healthcare, any data or information shared is personal and therefore should remain confidential. However, many apps require a certain degree of data collection to function, and to a certain extent, to profit. Ultimately, it all boils down to this: there is no surefire way to ensure the safety and efficacy of these digital mental health solutions, which renders those in healthcare hesitant to endorse them and prevents users from making informed decisions.
All things considered, there is immense potential in the digital mental health space, applicable to the workplace and beyond.
Though it is irrefutable that there are certain obstacles which challenge the viability and sustainability of digital mental health, one cannot deny that this only prompts a stronger interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle these challenges for there to be a better outcome for all the stakeholders involved.
The HackMentalHealth London chapter is led by Shivani Patel. Please visit hackmentalhealth.care/london to learn more!
