Depression is currently a global health crisis and one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide. Because of this, private enterprises and governments are going to have to do something about it. But what, exactly?
That’s the topic of this post. It looks at the strategies firms and brands can use to reduce depression, not just among their workforces, but in society in general.
Develop New Mental Health Technologies
One option for private sector firms is to develop new mental health technologies. These can provide assistance to people when they need it.
For example, user-friendly apps and platforms are already available for people who want extra support with their mental health. These make it simpler to track mood or perform mindfulness exercises.
AI-driven systems are now also in development. These essentially substitute for the human element in mental health management. While such systems may not be as creative as human therapists, they are still highly effective and often follow guidelines better than their real-life counterparts.
Design Products The Reduce Depression
Another approach is to design products that reduce the risk of depression developing in the first place. These help people get back on the straight and narrow by changing how their brains work and, perhaps, altering their perspective.
These days, companies are experimenting with all sorts of ingredients and formulations. These include novel compounds, like agomelatine powder, as well as more common substances like CBD, or natural ingredients, like lavender.
What’s nice about this option is that it is cheap, accessible, and easy to administer. It doesn’t require much time and may benefit patients with specific deficits in their systems.
Fund Mental Health Research
Businesses outside of the space can still do quite a bit to reduce depression. For example, they could fund mental health research, assisting labs and charities seeking evidence-based solutions. This money could result in the development of new and more effective therapies that offer more assistance to people and help them get out of difficult situations or crisis periods.
Brands that create open-source tools that researchers and medics can use are even more valuable in the fight against depression. Making data available at everyone’s fingertips improves the ability to track depression trends and understand the underlying (and sometimes mysterious) drivers.
Launch Public Awareness Campaigns
Related to this, brands can also explore the idea of launching public awareness campaigns. These could highlight the problems caused by depression, the stigma associated with it, and what people can do if they think they might have the condition.
The best approaches:
- Start with relatable stories affecting real people
- Discuss how to access resources to help deal with depression
- Gamify depression-related challenges to engage audiences and highlight the problem
Working with the government is often critical for these campaigns. Many businesses and charities can attract more money this way.
Add Wellness To Everyday Products
Finally, companies can support the fight against depression by adding wellness elements to everyday products. These are ideal for guided meditation apps, but even for companies in the food industry that want to avoid using brain-health-harming additives.
Depression is currently a global health crisis and one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide. Because of this, private enterprises and governments are going to have to do something about it. But what, exactly?
That’s the topic of this post. It looks at the strategies firms and brands can use to reduce depression, not just among their workforces, but in society in general.
Develop New Mental Health Technologies
One option for private sector firms is to develop new mental health technologies. These can provide assistance to people when they need it.
For example, user-friendly apps and platforms are already available for people who want extra support with their mental health. These make it simpler to track mood or perform mindfulness exercises.
AI-driven systems are now also in development. These essentially substitute for the human element in mental health management. While such systems may not be as creative as human therapists, they are still highly effective and often follow guidelines better than their real-life counterparts.
Design Products The Reduce Depression
Another approach is to design products that reduce the risk of depression developing in the first place. These help people get back on the straight and narrow by changing how their brains work and, perhaps, altering their perspective.
These days, companies are experimenting with all sorts of ingredients and formulations. These include novel compounds, like agomelatine powder, as well as more common substances like CBD, or natural ingredients, like lavender.
What’s nice about this option is that it is cheap, accessible, and easy to administer. It doesn’t require much time and may benefit patients with specific deficits in their systems.
Fund Mental Health Research
Businesses outside of the space can still do quite a bit to reduce depression. For example, they could fund mental health research, assisting labs and charities seeking evidence-based solutions. This money could result in the development of new and more effective therapies that offer more assistance to people and help them get out of difficult situations or crisis periods.
Brands that create open-source tools that researchers and medics can use are even more valuable in the fight against depression. Making data available at everyone’s fingertips improves the ability to track depression trends and understand the underlying (and sometimes mysterious) drivers.
Launch Public Awareness Campaigns
Related to this, brands can also explore the idea of launching public awareness campaigns. These could highlight the problems caused by depression, the stigma associated with it, and what people can do if they think they might have the condition.
The best approaches:
- Start with relatable stories affecting real people
- Discuss how to access resources to help deal with depression
- Gamify depression-related challenges to engage audiences and highlight the problem
Working with the government is often critical for these campaigns. Many businesses and charities can attract more money this way.
Add Wellness To Everyday Products
Finally, companies can support the fight against depression by adding wellness elements to everyday products. These are ideal for guided meditation apps, but even for companies in the food industry that want to avoid using brain-health-harming additives.
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