The Feeling Good App’s Role in Workplace Wellbeing

• Written by: Caroline Amanquah — Foundation for Positive Mental Health — Communications and Relationship Manager
• Published: 14th November 2023

Self Management Network Scotland members Foundation for Positive Mental Health on how their free app can help with workforce wellbeing.

The UK’s workplace mental health crisis is an issue of critical concern: over 800,000 workers
face stress, depression, or anxiety annually, with mental health absences averaging 18 days per
person [1, 2 ]. This not only affects productivity and job satisfaction—with 89% reporting that
their mental health impacts their work —but also carries a hefty price tag for employers, totalling
£56 billion yearly [3, 4]. This reflects a 25% increase since 2019, driven by presenteeism,
turnover, and absenteeism [3,4]. Mental health has become the leading reason for sick leave,
with the cost of staff turnover alone soaring by 150% over three years [4]. The private sector’s
burden is immense at £43-46 billion, against the public sector’s £10 billion [4]. Addressing
mental health at work is therefore not just ethical but an economic imperative, demanding
robust, evidence-based interventions.

The Feeling Good App, underpinned by the PosMT (Positive Mental Training) programme,
addresses mental health in the workplace by offering evidence-based strategies aimed at
reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. The PosMT programme is grounded in
psychological research and its application within occupational settings has yielded positive
outcomes, as highlighted by multiple studies. PosMT’s foundations lie in combining Olympic
sports coaching with relaxation techniques, sitting within an upstream cognitive behavioural
paradigm, whereby positive emotions, derived from memories of autonomy, are used to
automatically reduce negative cognitions. This builds resilience and wellbeing among
employees. It is designed as an easy-to-use modular audio programme, during which users are
guided through exercises that help reframe negative thinking patterns, foster a positive mindset,
and teach relaxation methods to manage stress effectively and sleep better [5].

In an occupational health context, such as with NHS staff, the programme has been shown to
significantly reduce burnout—a common issue in high-stress, high-workload environments. This
not only improves the personal health of the employees but also translates into greater job
satisfaction and personal accomplishment. This in turn increases productivity, reduced
absenteeism, and overall better workplace morale. The effectiveness of the programme is not
just short-term; research suggests that the benefits of PosMT persist well beyond the initial
listening, still improving 6 months later, indicating that it helps individuals develop long-lasting
coping skills. By providing workers with tools to improve their mental health, the Feeling Good
App serves as a valuable resource for organisations looking to foster a healthier, more resilient
workforce [5].

To implement the Feeling Good app effectively into workplace wellness programmes a detailed
launch strategy would entail communicating the app’s advantages in staff meetings and in
internal communications. Arrange training sessions to familiarise staff with the app’s
functionalities. Incorporate app usage into your company’s wellness objectives, offering
incentives for regular use. Align the app with ongoing mental health schemes and wellness
events to boost uptake. Foster an open culture by sharing user success stories, thereby
demonstrating the app’s role in enhancing employee mental wellbeing.

Employers can gauge the impact of the Feeling Good app by monitoring levels of app
engagement and correlate these with feedback on employee morale and stress. Implement
regular surveys to evaluate the app’s impact on the work environment. For a holistic
assessment, combine qualitative feedback from staff testimonials with quantitative data, like
usage metrics, to analyse and improve the company’s mental health and wellbeing strategy.

For further information on the Feeling Good app, please contact Karen@fpmh.org.uk or visit our
website: https://www.feelinggood.app/.

References:

1. https://humanfactors101.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/work-related-stress-anxiety-or-dep
   ression-humanfactors101.com_.pdf
2. https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/dayslost.htm
3. https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/blog/10-workplace-mental-health-statistics-2022/
4. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consultancy/deloitte-uk-m
   ental-health-report-2022.pdf
5. https://www.foundationforpositivementalhealth.com/research/occupational-health

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