The Mental Health Technology Boom: Tools Every HR Leader Should Know About

Chayanika Sen -

We are living in a time when organizations are spending a lot of effort to grow awareness around mental health. At the same time, tech is evolving at a rapid rate. So, it’s only natural to see an amalgamation of the two leading to a mental health technology boom. 

In this article, we will explore how technologies can play a vital role in improving mental health in the workplace. But before that, let’s understand why HR leaders must care for the mental health of their employees. 

Benefits for supporting the mental health of employees

Supporting mental health in the workplace is not just a wellness initiative anymore—it’s a business imperative. Here are the key benefits of supporting mental wellbeing:

1. Increased Productivity

Employees with positive mental health are more focused, engaged, and able to perform their tasks effectively. They can produce more and better quality output. 

2. Reduced Absenteeism

Poor mental health is one of the vital causes of absenteeism. Investing in mental health solutions can help prevent burnout and long-term sick leaves. Moreover, companies that support mental health have lower attrition rates as the employees feel valued and supported.

3. Minimize Presenteeism

Presenteeism is when employees are physically present at the workplace but unable to perform at their best due to underlying health issues, stress, or burnout. By addressing mental health concerns proactively, companies can minimize presenteeism as well.

4. Stronger Workplace Culture

A workplace culture that prioritizes mental health fosters trust, inclusivity, and collaboration. Employees feel safe discussing challenges and seeking help, leading to a more cohesive and supportive work environment.

5. Enhanced Creativity and Innovation

Mentally healthy employees are more likely to be open to new ideas. They can think critically and contribute innovative solutions. 

6. Better Decision-Making

Stress and mental fatigue can hinder creativity and problem-solving skills. Mental health support encourages employees’ clear thinking and better decision-making, even under pressure. 

7. Reduced Healthcare Costs

Serious health issues like high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, etc., can be avoided by early intervention and assessment of the mental health of the employees and providing the necessary support. In turn, these initiatives help to lower the company's healthcare expenses. 

9. Improved Employer Brand

Organizations that actively support mental health initiatives enhance their employer brand. Companies that actively promote mental wellbeing can attract top talent. 

Employee wellbeing tools for HR leaders

If you’re an HR leader with a focus on boosting the mental health of your people in 2025 and beyond, here are some areas of mental health technology to invest in.  

Wearable

Wearables play an important role in tracking different mental health symptoms. This comes in handy and is convenient compared to manual tracking with lengthy paper records. Having a mental health tech with AI algorithms in the form of a wearable helps to analyze data, find any patterns, and send warning signs in real time. 

Employers can invest in wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers that can help employees monitor their stress levels along with other physiological markers like oxygen saturation, heart rate, etc. 

Such wearable devices can also help collect sleep patterns and quality that employees can share with their therapists and identify any need for sleep hygiene interventions. 

Invest in employee wellness digital platforms

Many digital wellness platforms can provide employees with useful resources on mental health awareness. For example, Manah  Wellness is one such platform that enables employers to extend various mental health resources to their employees. Manah’s AI-powered Manahverse is one such offering that allows employees to seek wellness guidance at their own pace on their smartphones. The LEAP program is another offering with a collection of wellbeing guidebooks, wellbeing resources, tools, expert sessions, and more to guide employees about their mental health wellbeing. 

Mediation and mindfulness apps

 There are many mindfulness and meditation apps available that offer structured programs explicitly designed for workplace stress management. HR leaders can consider offering subscriptions to such apps for their employees featuring guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, etc. Some of these apps also offer detailed analytics on employee engagement and wellness metrics, allowing HR teams to measure program effectiveness while maintaining individual privacy.

Mental health chatbots

AI-powered conversational chatbots can offer 24/7 mental health support, which works best to provide the first line of immediate support. While they don't replace human therapists, these conversational chatbots can work well in mood tracking, stress management, and mild anxiety. 

Teletherapy platforms

Virtual therapy platforms can offer every employee with easy access to mental health guidance in the workplace. These services can connect employees with licensed therapists through secure video sessions, messaging, and self-guided digital programs. These platforms often integrate with existing health benefits and provide HR teams with anonymized utilization data. The convenience of virtual sessions can increase therapy uptake rates significantly compared to traditional in-person options.

FAQs

  1. What are the most trending mental health-supporting technologies?

AI-powered chatbots for 24/7 emotional support, teletherapy platforms for virtual counseling, and wearable trackers for stress and sleep monitoring. 

  1. How do teletherapy platforms benefit employees?

They provide flexible, confidential access to licensed therapists via video calls or messaging ensuring convenient mental health support without workplace disruption.