5 reasons why Dialogue’s mental health program is so effective

In light of growing awareness of the health effects of stress in the workplace and the rising number of mental health–related disability claims in recent years, many organizations are recognizing the need to offer better support to their employees. Unfortunately, employer-sponsored programs often fall short of giving patients the care they need, hindering their chances of recovery by limiting their therapy sessions, failing to identify symptoms early, and making patients wait days or even weeks for an appointment.

By contrast, Dialogue’s innovative mental health program is focused on positive outcomes for the patient and, by extension, your organization. The program takes a proactive approach to promoting well-being and stress management in the workplace and offers access to unlimited personalized treatment, which members can access from the comfort of home, from a team of multidisciplinary health professionals. 

This approach has proven benefits for employees and the companies they work for. Here are five ways Dialogue’s mental health program has made an impact.

1. High return on investment

Poor mental health is detrimental to your business’s bottom line, but how much will a support program mitigate the damage? A 2019 study by Deloitte Insights shows that workplace mental health programs yield a valuable return on investment. Examining the typical annual ROI of workplace mental health programs at several Canadian companies, the study found that organizations investing in these programs are reducing their costs, with fewer mental health–related disability claims compared to the national average. 

Meanwhile, an analysis of 8,000 employees enrolled in Dialogue’s program found considerable estimated savings for employers:

• $900,000 in prevented disability claims 

• $120,000 in potential psychotherapy claims 

• $1.98 million by decreasing presenteeism

This amounts to a $3 million return on an investment of $480,000 per year.

2. Better outcomes for mental health

Dialogue’s program provides access to different health professionals, including psychotherapists, doctors, and nurse practitioners, so that each patient can receive the type of treatment they need—a multidisciplinary approach that has been proven to be effective. One study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2019, assessed the outcomes of combining antidepressant medication and cognitive behavioural therapy to treat adults with depression and concluded that patients benefited from receiving both forms of treatment versus just one.

There is also evidence that telemedicine, in addition to being a preferred option for many employees, leads to positive clinical outcomes. A study of 51 patients undergoing treatment for common mental health disorders through Dialogue’s program reported a significant decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms and shorter leaves of absence compared to national averages, suggesting that virtual care is just as effective, if not more so, than in-person treatment.

According to our members, there is on average 36 to 50% improvement in their mental health score when using our programs.

When patients are prescribed a leave of absence, the duration of the leave is at the discretion of their doctor or nurse practitioner. By not enforcing a specific length of leave, Dialogue ensures that its healthcare practitioners can tailor treatments based on patient needs. Ultimately, though, patients enrolled in Dialogue’s program take shorter leaves of absence compared to the Canadian average. 

3. High employee satisfaction

Employees’ response to Dialogue’s program has been overwhelmingly positive.

As of December 2022:

• 90 percent say they are satisfied with the program 

• 77 percent say they are more proactive with their health by using Dialogue

• 92 percent feel their well-being is important to their organization

4. Positive impact for organizations

In 2019, the global airline trade association IATA implemented Dialogue’s mental health services. What happened next at the organization illustrates just how much of an impact the program can have: 

• Significantly less time taken off work for doctor’s appointments

• Boost in productivity 

• Estimated savings of $73,846 in prevented disability leaves

• Lower-than-expected number of mental health patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

Many of IATA’s employees are expats who do not have a family doctor, so for them, having access to Dialogue’s team of health professionals has eliminated the stress of having to navigate an unfamiliar healthcare system. Dialogue’s resources on stress management and well-being have also helped these employees cope with the hardships of being far away from friends and family.

5. Happier, healthier employees

Dialogue’s mental health program has had a profound impact on many of its members, providing them with the coping mechanisms they need to build resilience and deal with stress. Jenn Ahmarani, a medical technical support specialist, explains that being able to attend therapy virtually, from the comfort of home, has made it easier to stay in treatment, and that she appreciates the freedom to consult with a therapist as often as needed. Having struggled with depression and anxiety for years, Ahmarani says her treatment has been life-changing: “Dialogue has given me such a good way of coping with things. So many things have happened this year that previously would have sent me over the edge, and I’ve just been able to handle it with a smile on my face and not let things get to me.”

Discover how Dialogue’s services can help you obtain the right workplace strategies to build a positive mental health culture in your organization.