2020 was not a standout year for anybody—at least not positively anyway. But one good thing to come out of 2020 was the awareness of mental health within the workplace. Mental illness rates skyrocketed in 2020 with the extra stress of the pandemic having a negative effect on many people. But according to HRM, the news site of the Australian HR Institute, “The Productivity Commission’s 2020 inquiry into mental health found creating psychologically safe workplaces was a vital step towards combating Australia’s $220 billion mental health crisis.”
With the increase of remote working and isolation from human connectivity, access to counselling and support services was difficult to find. Employee Assistance Program’s start-up ‘Uprise’ focused on providing mental health care through an app. Through the app, employees can undergo cognitive behaviour therapy to help build the skills needed to deal with stress and burnout. The service works alongside a human coach to check-in on employees regularly via phone call.
