Tackle anxiety, burn-out and stress-related conditions
This article explains tech overload, its effects and the tools, services and support Aetna International offers members.
Aetna International’s recent survey, The digital health dilemma: Is technology keeping workers healthy or making them ill?, showed that digital technology in the workplace is a double-edged sword when it comes to its influence on our health and well-being. Tools such as email and project management or collaboration software have enabled us to work remotely for a better work-life balance and conduct international business with ease. They have also given rise to an ‘always-on’ culture that has been shown to be damaging our emotional and mental health.
What does ‘always-on’ culture look like?
- 70% of respondents admit to checking their phones first thing in the morning for work-related messages, and nearly two-thirds do the same thing right before going to bed.
And what’s its impact?
- Around 60% of our respondents said that pressures to answer calls and emails outside of work makes them more stressed
- 56% say that reliance on and overuse of communication platforms and work-related emails increases their stress levels.
If it’s not used responsibly and managed carefully, having access to more tech can mean more stress. Our data shows that employees are struggling to achieve a work-life balance, particularly when working remotely or from home.
The COVID-19 Pandemic
At the time of writing (July 2020) many countries are still in varying states of lockdown, and residents may have endured months of social and physical isolation and home working. This has been possible due to connected tech, but has exacerbated ‘always-on’ behaviours, driving e-Presenteeism, stress and burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic has therefore increased employees’ need for more mental health support.
Employees call for more support
In the report, we also revealed that employees are keen for their employers to help and support a healthy digital culture: 61% believe their employer could help them better manage their mental health through workplace technology. This includes: helping to curb the pressures of ‘always-on’ culture and tech overload, and better management of their physical and mental health.
Employers can help
This latter fact helps to illuminate the pathway forwards. As Simon Miller, Senior Director, Customer Proposition, Aetna International explains: “It’s well within an employer’s control to implement tailored solutions to support the mental and physical well-being of their workforce… It’s important for the company’s culture to reflect healthy policies that help curb the ‘always-on’ phenomenon and empower people to switch off, and for leaders to set the example.”
Many of our respondents already believe their employer supports and helps them tackle technology overload by:
- Ensuring a minimum number of face-to-face meetings per week (61%)
- Promoting face-to-face communication in the office rather than via email or a chat tool (57%)
- Limiting the amount of time spent on work email and phone calls after hours (52%)
- Ensuring that regular one-on-one check-ins take place and any problems are addressed (64%)
- Using a workplace technology policy to support employees’ physical and mental health (58%)
- Establishing a workplace technology policy to curb excessive workload (64%).
How Aetna can help
Aetna International has a range of tools, services and resources to help those who may be suffering from tech overload, stress-management and/or burnout.
Managing stress – Mindfulness-based stress reduction service (AWARE) and eQuoo
Six sessions with an MBSR-trained health and wellness professional to help overcome stress or anxiety. Find out more about AWARE
We also offer members a discount on accessing eQuoo, the emotional fitness game that allows you to have fun while learning the psychological skills needed to manage stress. Login to Health Hub to get your discount on eQuoo.
Combatting burn-out – Wysa (mental well-being app)
Wysa is the confidential and anonymous mental well-being app and service. Through Wysa, all Aetna International members and their employees have free access to 24/7 text-based support designed to help them navigate a range of mental well-being challenges at their own pace. This includes anxiety, stress, motivation and confidence. The app’s AI-driven chat function allows members to ‘chat’ about their mental well-being via text, and can direct them to self-help content and coaching packs that can be used to develop tailored management plans.
Login to your member website to use Wysa now.
Tackling depression – Therapeutic counselling
Advice and guidance provided by a clinical therapist and counsellor – either in person or over the phone. Find out more about therapeutic counselling in our employer assistance programme (EAP) guide.
These and other mental health challenges – myStrength app
myStrength is a collection of highly interactive, personalised online tools that helps empower you to address:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Substance use
- Chronic pain
- Trouble sleeping
Login to your member website to access myStrength now.
Physical health challenges – ClassPass and Aetna DNA
Good physical health helps to improve mental health and mood, but committing to a gym, fitness centre or studio can be hard. With ClassPass you can work out at any gym, try any workout and do it all with one app. As physical distancing continues to impact regions around the world, ClassPass also provides access to online fitness classes. From cycling and strength training to yoga, you can try them all; choose any class, anywhere, with one flexible membership.
Login to your member website to get your discount on ClassPass.
Aetna DNA
Aetna DNA isn’t a disease diagnostics tool, but it can help you understand how to tackle specific areas of health and wellness, from nutrition, fitness and stress to sleep. Personalise your health journey with advice tailored to your lifestyle and genetics.
Find out more about Aetna DNA here.
Aetna Well-being
Health Hub — your secure member section — includes Aetna Well-being: various health and well-being resources including the Wysa app (see above), counselling (see above) and discounts on gym membership and apps.
Click here to find out more about Aetna Well-being. Or log in to your member websiteto access your member offers now.
-
Transcript
Welcome to Aetna Well-being: a clear and easy way for you to access health and well-being resources available as part of your health care benefits.
As an Aetna International member, you can find these resources by logging in to your Health Hub, your member portal.
To keep things simple, Aetna Well-being contains four easy-to-navigate categories: Mind, Body, Living and working abroad, and special member offers.
Each of these gives you access to a range of self-help tools and professional support, carefully chosen to help you take care of your overall well-being in a way that makes most sense to you.
Let’s start with Mind. Here you'll find key resources, detailed articles and professional support to help you stay on top of your emotional and mental well-being.
For example, take advantage of Wysa — a mental well-being app developed by leading clinicians. You’ll have an AI chat buddy who listens, and tools and coaching that support you to overcome stress, depression and anxiety.
There are also member offers on leading apps to help with your sleep, get personalised activity plans and manage chronic pain, and even help boost your emotional intelligence.
If you have the Aetna International Employee Assistance Program benefit, you can sign-up for professional therapeutic counselling sessions over the phone or in-person to better learn how to cope with stress, anxiety, and more!
Next, Body helps you take care of your physical well-being. It’s packed with educational articles, guides, videos and webinars to help you stay fit and healthy.
Get up to 25% off gym membership at ClassPass,giving you access to over 30,000 gyms and studios around the world as well as thousands of live and on-demand workouts you can do anywhere without needing an annual subscription. Other offers include great deals on self-help physio and online smoking cessation programmes.
The Aetna International In-Touch Care and vHealth Service can also help you manage your physical health, by providing direct access to a team of Aetna International nurses and doctors.
Moving and settling into a new place can be complicated and unnerving, which is why we’ve developed resources to support our members and their families who live and work abroad.
Living & working abroad gives you access to Work-life support for help solving every day overseas challenges, such as sourcing local childcare and finding recommended local traders, no matter where you are in the world. Access a life coach or help to navigate the complexities of managing a team overseas with Manager Assistance Services. You can also find out about and register for WorldAware, our crisis response partner who we work with to keep members and their families safe in today's changing global landscape.
Finally, all of your well-being benefits are in one place. You can find specially selected offers on a wide variety of great apps and support to enable you to have a happier and healthier lifestyle.
So, log-in to your Health Hub today and discover how easy it is to improve, manage and balance your physical and mental well-being — on your terms.
Wherever you are, we’re there with you.
More from Aetna International
As part of our ongoing digital transformation, Aetna International is making the digital pathway to health easier and more intuitive for its members. This includes making claims, finding and accessing health care, warm handovers between primary health care and well-being services, and much more. Currently, Aetna International offers the following virtual and digital health care and wellness solutions in the many regions in which it operates:
Primary care
vHealth
vHealth is the virtual health app that enables users to consult a doctor virtually by phone or computer at any time of the day or night, and from anywhere in the world. It is the convenient service that makes it easy to access personal, affordable, high quality health care.
Find out more about vHealth
iConnectYou
This app that enables members to get in touch with many of our employee assistance services directly at the touch of a button. Find out more about iConnectYou in our employer assistance programme (EAP) guide.
Workplace wellness
Employee assistance programme (EAP)
Aetna International’s EAP is a suite of employee benefit programmes. Their aim is to help employees deal with personal and work-related issues that negatively impact their work performance, health and general well-being. This confidential service includes support for other areas such as physical health and life admin. They include:
- Work-life services
A concierge-style service available to help source service providers, make travel arrangements, or provide third-party experts. Find out more about work-life services in our employer assistance programme (EAP) guide.
- Management assistance services
Management development coaching to help team leaders overcome everyday challenges to successfully handle day-to-day situations. Find out more about Management assistance services in our employer assistance programme (EAP) guide.
Remote working advice and support
As our report shows, the 2020 global pandemic is putting added stress on many of us. To help you tackle many of the issues you may face, we have created a remote working resource hub that provides you with advice and guidance on topics from mental and physical health to accessing care remotely, making claims and a COVID-19 FAQ.
Explore the remote working resource hub here
Clinical support and condition management – The care management team
Combining both clinical and logistical expertise, Aetna International's care management team is responsible for ensuring our customers receive high-quality health care solutions wherever they are in the world.
The care management team liaises with members and coordinates the activities of internal staff and care programmes, with external agencies, including hospitals, pharmacies and airlines, to support the treatment needs of members. We want to ensure you always have access to high-quality clinical treatments and ongoing care to support your needs, and the needs of eligible dependant family members.
Read more about the care management team or login to your member websiteto get in touch with the care management team.
Member website
This is yourpersonalised secure member website, at your fingertips when you need to:
- Find care
- Submit and track claims
- View plan documents
- …and more.
Log into your member website
Online advice and guides
As well as products and services, we have created a large resource of helpful advice and guides to support you in pursuing your health goals. Explore includes articles and hubs on physical and mental health, from information to step-by-step guides.
Read about:
- Quit smoking
- Remote working advice
- Workplace mental health
- Cancer support
- Destination guides
- Manage chronic conditions
- Physical and mental well-being
Browse Explore here
Further reading: Don’t turn off, turn down: Digital detox at work.
Are youlooking for expat insurance? Click here to get a quote.
Aetna® is a trademark of Aetna Inc. and is protected throughout the world by trademark registrations and treaties.
