How can companies leverage AI to improve their employee mental health? | Suvarna Nikam | Global HR Head | Visionet Systems

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving professional landscape, work stress has become a growing concern for employees across the globe. According to a recent workplace report, 57 percent of employees have experienced work-related stress, and nearly half of them claim it directly affects their mental health. Also, 76 percent of employees believe their company should be doing more to protect the mental health of their workforce.

As the burden of meeting deadlines, balancing workloads, and tackling interpersonal challenges becomes more intense, organizations are increasingly prioritizing the endeavor of mental health awareness, especially in the context of campaigns like Mental Health Awareness Month. The month-long celebration focuses on creating supportive work environments that may promote mental well-being.

As companies attempt to walk this tightrope, there is a rising tool: artificial intelligence. But it can be both a stressor and a savior – it all depends on how it is applied.

Workplace Stress: Key Causes
The root causes of work stress are mostly related to factors such as excessive workload, deadlines, lack of control over tasks, and inability to seek work-life balance. Furthermore, with the shift towards remote work, many employees find it difficult to disconnect from work, leading to burnout. According to a recent study of psychology, 79 percent of employees report work as the main source of stress, and the advent of AI has added a new layer of pressure.

While AI makes processes much more streamlined, workers fear displacement, unrealistic expectations about productivity, and pressure to adapt to new AI-driven tools. Workers frequently report that they are under constant scrutiny because of AI’s ability to monitor performance, track output, and predict burnout in an employee. This constant monitoring makes employees feel that they are being evaluated relentlessly, thereby increasing their level of anxiety.

Role of AI
Although AI might indirectly add to the stress, it has the potential to drastically reduce its incidence as it performs routine and mundane tasks, like data entry, meeting scheduling, or general queries being handled; it could give time back to these employees to concentrate on meaningful work rather than the usual, incessant routine.

Moreover, AI-driven platforms could assist corporate wellness programs by providing personalized mental health support, based on the needs of employees, and allow people the time and ability to do more meaningful work. For example, there are chatbots that offer emotional counseling based on an employee’s sentiments, providing real-time coping strategies and in multiple languages. Similarly, there are apps that are based on AI-driven computing to tailor mindfulness and relaxation techniques based on user behavior. These apps offer notifications to meditate, do breathing exercises, when the stress of the user peaks at certain times of the day or in certain weeks, especially during high demand work phases. They also flag when an employee is overburdened, either
through monitoring access to data from wearable devices or hours spent actively on a work computer and suggest strategies to improve work life balance, for instance, requesting breaks or fewer meetings, suggesting blocks on calendar for some focus time or wind down time. AI tools can be and should be used by the employers to engage with willing employees who wish to seek such support, without trespassing their personal space. These tools would go a long way in helping employees to manage workload and burn out risk.

Future of AI at Workplace
The future of AI in workplace mental health will hinge on predicting, preventing, and alleviating stress. With the seamless integration of AI into the workplace, 95 percent of employees in India agree that AI in the workplace is improving their quality of life. For example, AI systems are increasingly applied to detect early warning signs of mental health problems among employees, such as fatigue or emotional exhaustion, enabling HR departments to act before such problems escalate.

In essence, while AI does pose some challenges in the workplace, it brings plenty of opportunities for reducing stress and improving mental health. Since companies are unable to abstain from AI, they can encourage usage in ways that boost employees’ well-being. Applying AI in automating tasks, providing real-time support, and monitoring mental health indicators can, therefore, foster a healthier and more productive workplace. As technology continues to evolve, the future of mental health in the workplace will increasingly be shaped by AI’s ability to reduce stress and promote overall well-being.