Did you know about 580 million people with hypertension (41% of women and 51% of men) are unaware of their condition because they are never diagnosed? In 2021, a WHO and Imperial College London report mentioned the number of adults aged 30–79 years with hypertension has increased from 650 million to 1.28 billion in the last 30 years. Of course, we all know how much work is important and also crucial for mental well-being but not at the cost of hypertension and anxiety.
Covid-19 pandemic sparked unemployment and economic crises, which reported higher levels of depression and stress. People’s mental health further deteriorated as a result of uncertainty about their future, job losses, and debt. WHO says unemployment is a well-recognized risk factor for mental health problems, while returning to, or getting work is protective. But then, a negative working environment can lead to physical and mental health problems too. A recent WHO-led study estimated that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity.
LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index 2021 mentioned how there’s a wide gap between what employees need and what employers are offering to cope with stress. Work-related stress can cause poor productivity and human error. Office stress can also manifest back pain, fatigue, sleep disorder, headaches, gastrointestinal or hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, amongst others. A 2016 survey of 200,000 professionals across 30 Indian companies found that 46 % reported suffering extreme stress as a result of their work.
According to a National Mental Health survey, up to 83 percent of Indians who want professional assistance are hesitant to get it and this was also evident in the work culture. However, the Covid-19 has made several Indian firms give extra traction to employee well-being. From corporate wellness programs, paid vacations, primary health, mental healthcare, self-motivation sessions to WFH benefits and retirement benefits, companies are making sure employees get healthier and productive.
Companies have now begun to realize that the well-being of the employees has a direct impact on their happiness, and happiness has a direct impact on their productivity. On World Hypertension Day, we list a few firms that have recognized mental wellness as crucial in a workplace.
Classplus: Classplus, which is an industry-leading e-commerce enablement platform for coaching centres, solo tutors, and online content creators, launched the Classplus Wellness+ program. It’s an emotional wellness programme for its employees. The programme seeks to assist the complete Classplus team, as well as their loved ones, in dealing with daily stress, improving relationships, and living a happy life. The programme comprises one-on-one online therapy sessions with mental health professionals regarding anxiety, weight, addiction, health, postpartum depression, and other topics, which are provided free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The sessions are fully private.
Swiggy: Swiggy, the popular food delivery platform, had launched Built Around You, a curated wellness programme for its employees during Covid-19. The project was centred around physical, emotional/mental, financial, and legal wellness. The program included wellness screenings, health workshops, and one-on-one consultations on topics such as weight loss, addiction and diabetes management, maternity care, and marital counselling, among others.
HopeQure: HopeQure, one of India’s most reputable and HIPAA-compliant online mental health counselling platforms, also was in news for launching a completely automated Online Corporate Employee Mental Wellness Program. The program encouraged employees to adopt good work habits by providing a comprehensive solution to assist them in overcoming work-life difficulties. The program met the unique needs of employees by providing support for POSH, shift-work healing practices, healthy maternity, diet, yoga, meditation, nutrition, post-retirement planning, and other wellness programmes that aid in enhancing mental health and productivity.
CredR: CredR, a Mumbai-based, full-stack, vertically integrated, and omnichannel ecosystem of two-wheelers, had hired Harvard University mental health experts to conduct counselling sessions for its employees on topics such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, and low motivation. In the first Covid-19 lockdown, the startup had actively conducted various sessions on yoga, physical and mental fitness, and team bonding activities to combat the isolation that many employees might have experienced during these trying times. The platform has also established an internal helpline for employees.
