NHS backlogs spur mental health and wellbeing services and apps to enter market
Mental health and wellbeing services and apps have grown within the market as NHS backlogs and long waiting times have affected people being able to access support, according to a recent report.
The survey, representing over 500 views, found that the majority (57%) felt the use of these new options represented “effective” solutions and self-management tools which has added value to customers.
However, despite the majority agreeing that these new approaches were a useful medium, one in ten (11%) said they apps “over-promise and under-performed” for customers. There is also a significant perception that apps are merely a marketing sales tool.
Maurice Hammond, Managing Director of 1Stop4aGP, explained that it’s important to consider any mental health and wellbeing solutions as part of a holistic care pathway that “caters for the whole person - physical, psychological, financial and social - as opposed to
fix-all solutions.” It is also crucial that these services are integrated with the NHS and operate to take pressure away from frontline NHS service delivery.
It is clear from data gathered throughout the pandemic that large sections of the UK population now use mental health and remote GP services to gain quicker access to relief and support. Furthermore, in the workplace, mental health and wellbeing platforms can contribute to higher levels of employee morale, and greater resilience in tumultuous times.
