It’s not too late: How to prioritize worker mental health during a pandemic
Working from home so suddenly can negatively affect employees’ mental health, but technology may be able to help, experts said.
It’s not too late: How to prioritize worker mental health during a pandemic
Working from home so suddenly can negatively affect employees’ mental health, but technology may be able to help, experts said.
AUTHOR Sheryl Estrada
PUBLISHED April 7, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cautioned that fear and anxiety about the virus can be overwhelming.
In fact, more than 4 in 10 adults (45%) responding to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation Health poll said worry and stress related to COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health, up from 32% in early March. Mental health wellness must be a priority in the workplace during these challenging times, according to experts, and technology can play a role in increasing employee access to care.
“One in every 5 American adults experience some form of mental illness — over 43 million Americans,” William Kassler, chief medical officer of government health and human services at IBM Watson Health, told HR Dive in a phone interview. A work environment can have both positive and negative effects on an employees’ mental health, Kassler added.
The traditional workplace has changed for many since late February when the CDC advised businesses to start preparing for the spread of COVID-19, specifically focusing on transitioning to telework. Working at home and the disruption of one’s usual routine can be very stressful, said Kassler, a health policy expert and practicing primary care internist and epidemiologist. But research has shown that most employer-sponsored health plans do not offer coverage for mental health that’s comparable to their physical health offerings.
It’s not too late for companies in a time of crisis to implement mental health strategies, Kassler said. However, they will be in response mode. “In a pandemic response, there are three phases: preparedness, response and recovery,” Kassler explained. “Right now if you’re asking, what can employers do, well, the time for preparedness is gone. They can only respond.” Read more