Making mental wellbeing a priority with Xyla Digital Therapies
Mental ill health costs UK employers approximately £56 billion every year. From reduced productivity to burn-out resulting in long-term sickness, poor mental health has an impact on organisational results. According to Deloitte, a third of organisations are falling short of their duty of care, with employees expecting more mental health support. Those who fail to address these challenges may struggle to recruit and retain employees long-term.
Helping the workforce get access to the professional support they need is one of the biggest challenges employers face, with more than one in 10 people waiting over a year for treatment. Xyla Digital Therapies, part of Acacium Group provides digitally enabled therapy with access to thousands of specialist clinicians online, from any computer, tablet or smartphone device. Used by the NHS, local authorities, universities and businesses, Xyla Digital Therapies is one of the fastest-growing, flexible mental health services.
Extending this pioneering service to employees across Acacium Group, our teams have unlimited access to guided self-help, cognitive behavioural therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and counselling via our network of highly skilled clinicians. Shelley Naylor, Operational Excellence Manager for Pulse, part of Acacium Group, shares her experience using the service.
“My experience with my therapist, Nicola, has been out of this world. Being able to talk to somebody impartial about everything from childhood to the present day feels like an almighty weight has been lifted off my shoulders. She was attentive, she listened, and she summarised my thoughts and feelings brilliantly. Nicola held up that mirror for me to address some demons, but mainly to think about and understand how I was feeling and why I was feeling that way in those moments.
The experience of having these counselling sessions virtually was a great benefit. Juggling a full-time job and family home life with a child it fitted in seamlessly with my busy schedule. There were regular reminders of the appointment and any activity that needed completion before the session, so you were always on top of the prep work to get the best from each appointment.
I felt I needed to have a good bond with my therapist. You’re baring your soul to a stranger about potentially some of your darkest, saddest and most personal moments – so you need to feel comfortable to do this. Nicola made that easy from the very first session we had. We briefly explored some common ground; we were able to laugh in some of the sessions, and I was at ease to completely express any emotion that I was feeling at that time. Nicola would use this to explore further and get me to increase my self-awareness and engage with my emotions and feelings – something I’d never really taken the time to do before.
For me, Xyla Digital Therapies has been a life-changer. I’m going through many big life events, so this counselling also supported these aspects as they’ve been moving along. I learnt some new techniques and tools and received some book recommendations, which I have since invested in. These tools will help me to continue my mental health journey at my own pace, post counselling and I’ll be forever thankful to Nicola for sharing these little pearls of wisdom with me.
Going through this experience has made me learn so much about myself. I would encourage anyone needing help to seek out Xyla Digital Therapies for their expert knowledge, support, and patient care. Asking for help can be one of the hardest parts of the recovery journey, but they help put you at ease to get the treatment that best suits your needs. Anxiety will always be a part of me, but I won’t let it define me. Xyla Digital Therapies has played a huge role in my new thinking; I’m very grateful for that.”
Shelly’s story is not uncommon, with around one in 6 people experiencing mental health problems in the workplace. Providing your teams with the tools and resources to support and improve their mental health is the right thing to do and sets your business apart as an employer of choice. It’s also a good investment. According to Mental Health First Aid UK, for every £1 spent by employers on mental health interventions, employers could g£5.30 back in reduced absence, presenteeism, and staff turnover get £5.30 back.
To learn more about how Xyla Digital Therapies can drive productivity and engagement in your workforce, click here.
