The impact of technology on mental well-being (and what you can do about it)
There is an increasing awareness of the importance of mental wellness and supporting well-being of employees in the workplace. As we grow more aware, we are seeing a decline in mental health across the globe. The way we communicate in the workplace and the technology that enables this communication, deserves a lot of the blame.
Many of the most successful consumer applications developed in the last 10 years have been primarily about consumption, designed to steal your attention. Strategies that prey on basic human needs of acceptance and inclusion have led to the rise of the likes of Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and more—both in downloads and usage.
More recently, we have seen these same strategies leak into enterprise applications. Business products have adopted these same patterns, obsessions with notifications and gamification. Every application now competes for your attention in a systemic and impactful way—to the point where a distraction-free smartphone is now a thing.
A dangerous desire for eyeballs is now seen in the apps we use each day at work, and this has happened without sufficient consideration of the negative effects on the mental well-being of the workforce.
We are now dealing with a constant stream of consciousness throughout our lives. Leaving work on a Friday with the prospect of an uninterrupted weekend and the peace of mind that activities are under control has disintegrated to a far-flung dream. It is no surprise that a worrying decline in mental health is being felt, and it is partly a hangover from the always-on economy.
The blame does not sit entirely with the tools that are used. Many teams are working longer hours, dealing with increasing expectations from clients and managers, struggling to focus on what’s important, spending time on the wrong things, and missing deadlines. And as professional and personal life increasingly blends into one, stress and anxiety at work is spilling into the home.
By 2030, mental health is expected to have become the largest single healthcare burden, costing $6 trillion globally. The awareness of mental well-being, and the factors that can affect it, will only continue to rise, and everyone, and everything, must play a role in reversing the trend. The costs of ignoring it are too high.

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