0 Digital technology: Transforming mental health and wellbeing in the workplace Digital technology: Transforming mental health and wellbeing in the workplace Nicky Runeckles Commercial Director

70 million working days lost to mental illness (Leading cause of sickness absence in UK) Since 2009 sick days (stress, depression & anxiety) increased by 24% Workplace Mental Health £70bn cost to UK economy 75% of those with a diagnosable mental illness receive no treatment at all People with poor mental health die 15 – 20 years earlier 1 in 4 impacted

The good news... Nick Clegg – mental health on front page of manifesto Time to change campaign – Mind & Rethink Mindful employer – over 1,200 employers signed up (1.4m people) Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report – focused on mental health Norman Lamb’s challenge to all FTSE 100 companies Weekly stories in media – in people’s consciousness

The big BUT (1)....

The big BUT (2)... ‘Well-being in mental health is one poorly evidenced strand of a much bigger picture, and I recommend that bigger picture to policy makers. If we take the lead from the WHO and frame the subject as ‘mental health promotion’, ‘mental illness prevention’ and ‘treatment and rehabilitation’ then it becomes immediately apparent that we already have a good deal of evidence supporting a public health approach to mental health, and that effective and cost-effective interventions should be the priority” Prof Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, 2014 Are employee wellbeing programmes actually having an impact?

5 So what does digital offer? Employees find tools they need to self manage to improve and maintain psychological well-being Anonymous and secure online environment for employees, available 24/7 24/7 professionally-facilitated, clinically-supported, evidence-driven

And what results does that deliver? 73% Share an issue for the first time 80% Self manage 95% Members feel better Available for 27% of the UK adult population, over 25,000 members... With high levels of employee engagement 67% Take less sick time for mental health reasons 76% Report improved productivity at work

What do others say about it? Big White Wall Member: “I’ve always worked in a stressful environment, been an anxious type of guy, worry about stuff that I didn’t really need to, but I’ve always been able cope & deal with those situations in life & be able to move on. Well that was until the year before last diagnosed with depression & anxiety my GP suggested I look at a support site called Big White Wall, I had a look & thought it could be useful... I wasn’t alone anymore, depression does that to you, isolates you from life, from the world, but there was this community of people who I guess were all isolated, all in the same place, well that’s what it felt like. My recovery could be described as a bit of a jigsaw, there are a number of different pieces that have helped put me back together again.... but most of all my constant, The Big White Wall. For my constant, I will always be grateful.” Dr Justin Varney, National Lead for Adults and Older People's Health and Wellbeing, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health England: “Big White Wall provides a unique offer of 24 hour access to peer-to-peer support but most importantly there is clinical oversight, and 24 hour access to clinical support for all our staff through the Wall Guides and the online counselling and facilitated groups. We have a national footprint of locations, staff working shifts, and some who are going overseas, so having this 24 hour 365 days a year clinically-supported network suited our needs, and year into the contract it is going well.”

So, my questions... Our politicians and our organisations’ leaders are now recognising the importance of good mental health in the workplace, BUT... 1.Is fear of discrimination still preventing people accessing support - are traditional services meeting the need? 2.What’s the evidence that positive wellbeing programmes designed for all actually work - do we need a more targeted approach?

Contact Commercial Director Big White Wall Nicky Runeckles Awards