Fortis Healthcare launches Tele-Health Workplace Mental Health Initiative for corporate organizations

New Delhi: The Fortis National Mental Health Program has launched a comprehensive Workplace Mental Health initiative to provide evidence based mental health solutions to corporate organizations. It was launched on 18th February 2022 at Fortis Guardians of Health e-conclave attended by representatives from 800+ organizations across India.

The Workplace Mental Health Program provides for mental health counselling of employees of different organizations, webinars to create a culture of openness and acceptance about mental health in the organizations. A key feature of this initiative is the provision of additional real-time text chat support for individuals in distress, by a team of expert psychologists.

Globally, mental health conditions are amongst the leading causes of disability and distress. As per the WHO, approximately 280 million people in the world suffer from depression alone, and the mental health challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic have only exacerbated the situation. The lack of awareness and access to care remain the most significant obstacles to mental health care. It is a well-known fact that while work is a protective factor for mental health, a negative working environment can lead to physical and mental health problems. The need of the hour is therefore an organization that prioritizes the mental well-being of their employees.

Anil Vinayak, Group Chief Operating Officer, Fortis Healthcare at the event said, “A healthy body resides with a healthy mind.  Fortis Healthcare is committed to the cause of mental health. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has brought a major shift in the work life balance over the last few years. It has been difficult for most of the individuals to create a balance between personal and professional lives and it has also aggravated the mental health of many. It is important that as organizations, we prioritize the mental health of the people. To identify, manage and treat mental health issues, mass awareness initiatives like this one is very crucial.”

Dr. Samir Parikh, Director, Fortis National Mental Health Program said, “The aim of Workplace Mental Health Initiative is to provide employees with access to the right help at the right time, inculcate the mental skills to improve well-being, and most of all, build an organization with wide atmosphere that supports psychological safety at work. Through this initiative our team of psychologists offers tele-consultations and text support during psychological distress and the program offers counselling sessions and a 24×7 helpline in 14 Indian languages.”

“Mental health continues to remain the largest illnesses in the world pre-covid and post covid as well. With the rising concerns about mental health challenges, it is important for organizations to step up to ensure mental health and well-being of their employees. It is time we nurture a culture of openness about mental health at the workplace and look at mental health outcomes as a metric of success. Tele-mental health can play a key role to make mental health care more accessible, acceptable, and affordable. By screening patients for emotional well-being, we can address their issues, concerns and restore their quality of life.” he added.