Latest news with #Calm
Fast Company
34 minutes ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Why mental health support matters for all workers
The old adage 'the only thing constant is change' seems to ring true in workplaces today. Workplaces are rife with challenges, from navigating economic uncertainty to rapidly adapting to technological change. Workplace mental health support plays a pivotal role in helping employees build resilience to navigate the stressors they face. When we discuss mental health in the workplace, we often think of a corporate office: a desk, a screen, and a Slack channel. In reality, the need for mental health support extends to all sectors and workers. From healthcare to hospitality, construction to retail, food service to utilities, workers in non-office jobs are just as in need of support as their desked peers. There is no such thing as a stress-free workplace. As a leader, what you do to address it can make all the difference. It's a business imperative At Calm, we've seen this firsthand. Through our app, we support over 3,500 organizations, including 600 non-office industries. Across sectors and industries, employees come to Calm for stress, anxiety, mindfulness, and sleep support. Workers across the board might share similar challenges—anxiety, burnout, family stress—but their experiences are unique to their role or environment. An office worker may fear being replaced by AI. A warehouse worker may worry more about the risk of injury or being replaced by automation. Each of those fears is valid, and each deserves bespoke support. Supporting workers isn't just the right thing to do; it's a business imperative. According to yale researchers, the U.S. economy loses over $280 billion each year due to mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Gallup found that employees who report poor mental health take nearly five times as many sick days. That's $47.6 billion in lost productivity. But more than that, it's millions of people quietly struggling to get through the day. It doesn't have to be this way and making mental health support a priority goes a long way. It begins with open and honest communication. Leaders must be willing to share their own experiences with stress, anxiety, or burnout to normalize these conversations. I've publicly discussed my personal journey with my team, from experiencing panic attacks starting as a teenager to leading Calm, aiming to inspire others to prioritize their mental well-being. This transparency has helped break down the stigma associated with mental health challenges and encourages employees to seek help when they need it. Steps leaders can take Here are some other ways leaders can help incorporate employee mental well-being as a workplace priority: Talk about it. Leadership sets the tone and should model and share their own experiences balancing mental well-being while at work. Listen. Be present. Find ways to hear from your the stressors that exist across different types of work. For some, it's emotional fatigure. For others, it's physical strain or unpredictable hours. All of it matters. Meet people where they are. Whether it's a digital platform, a flyer in the locker room, or a text-based check-in, delivery matters as much as the message. Tailor support. One-size-fits-all solutions fall flat. A call center agent and a construction worker have very different needs, and your approach should reflect that. Normalize mental health in company culture. Mental wellness shouldn't feel like an afterthought. At Calm, we begin every all-hands meeting with a short meditation. I try not to start my day by checking emails or texts. These aren't big shifts, but they're grounding. When mindfulness is integrated into the rhythm of work, it becomes an integral part of the culture, rather than just a checkbox. At Calm, we've learned that purpose and performance aren't opposites. When employees feel supported, they show up stronger and better. Engagement goes up, turnover goes down, and business benefits. Stress isn't going away. However, we have an opportunity to transform how we support employees in handling it. Workplace mental health support isn't optional; it's essential. It is crucial to create a supportive and sustainable workplace that enables leaders to take a holistic approach to caring for their people. After all, we can't build healthy companies without a thriving workforce across all teams in every sector of our economy.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mindful abroad: 9 tips to stay mentally fit while studying in a new country
Studying abroad is one of the most exciting and transformative experiences a student can have. It opens doors to new cultures, friendships, and academic opportunities. However, this adventure can also bring unique mental health challenges such as homesickness, culture shock, academic pressure, and feelings of isolation. Maintaining your mental well-being while abroad is just as important as your academic success. Here are 9 practical ways to maintain your mental health while studying abroad and make the most of your experience: Establish a routine Creating a daily routine is essential for mental stability. When you have a set schedule—waking up at the same time, attending classes, scheduling study sessions, meal times, and relaxation periods—it provides structure amidst the excitement and uncertainty. A routine helps manage stress, keeps procrastination away, and makes you feel more grounded in a new environment. Explore local support services Most universities that host international students offer mental health resources such as counseling services, support groups, or workshops. Don't hesitate to reach out if you're feeling overwhelmed. Mental health professionals understand the unique struggles of studying abroad and can provide tailored advice or therapy. Early intervention can prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems. Practice mindfulness and meditation Mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are proven methods to reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being. These techniques help you stay present and calm when you feel stressed or homesick. You can start with simple guided meditation apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer, which offer short sessions perfect for busy student schedules. Engage in physical activity Physical exercise is a natural mood booster. Whether it's jogging in the park, joining a local sports team, practicing dance, or even walking around your new city, regular movement helps release endorphins—your brain's 'feel-good' chemicals. Exercise also improves sleep quality and energy levels, making it easier to handle daily challenges. Build a social network Making new friends and building a social circle is vital for emotional support abroad. Join student clubs, attend campus events, or participate in cultural or volunteer activities. These interactions foster a sense of belonging and help reduce feelings of isolation. Plus, sharing experiences with fellow students often leads to lifelong friendships. Eat well and sleep enough Nutrition and sleep directly impact mental health. Eating balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, and proteins gives your brain the nutrients it needs to function well. Trying local cuisine can be fun but aim to keep it healthy. Similarly, ensure you get 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Good sleep hygiene—like limiting screen time before bed and maintaining a consistent bedtime—can dramatically improve mood and cognitive function. Set realistic expectations Studying abroad can come with pressure to excel academically, socially, and culturally. It's important to remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes or have off days. Learning to accept imperfection and giving yourself grace during setbacks reduces anxiety. Set achievable goals and celebrate small wins instead of striving for unrealistic perfection. Take time for yourself Finally, carve out 'me time' regularly. Whether it's reading a book, journaling, listening to music, or simply taking a quiet walk, personal downtime helps recharge your mental batteries. Don't overcommit to social events or academic tasks; balance is key to sustained well-being. Stay connected with family Being far from home can sometimes feel lonely, especially during tough times. Regularly connecting with family and friends via video calls, texts, or social media can provide emotional support and remind you that you're not alone. Setting a weekly video call or sharing your experiences through photos and messages helps maintain those close bonds and keeps homesickness at bay. Studying abroad can be a journey filled with growth, new perspectives, and unforgettable memories. By actively maintaining your mental health through connection, routine, self-care, and support, you can navigate the challenges and make your time abroad truly rewarding. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength—not weakness—and taking care of yourself will help you thrive academically and personally. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
National Post
19 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Calm Health Expands Globally, Starting with UK and Canada
Article content Building on U.S. success, Calm Health launches internationally to help bridge care gaps, increase engagement with employer and health benefits, and scale access to mental health resources. Article content PALO ALTO, Calif. — Calm, a leading mental health company, today announced the international expansion of Calm Health, its evidence-based app that provides consumers access to mental health support through their employers, health plans or providers. Article content Calm Health's global rollout begins in the UK and Canada, driven by growing consumer demand for accessible, scalable, and engaging mental health support. The expansion also gives multinational employers a single, unified solution extending Calm's impact across borders while streamlining support for global workforces. The need for mental health support is urgent: globally, more than 70% of people experiencing mental health challenges don't seek help, often due to stigma, uncertainty, or limited access. Article content 'Most employers see less than 5% engagement with their employee assistance programs. Without engagement, we can't expect meaningful outcomes,' said David Ko, CEO of Calm. 'In the U.S., Calm Health is already driving above-average engagement across employer and health plan populations, a strong signal that we're meeting a critical need as demand rises here in the U.S. and worldwide. Expanding globally is a natural next step to make mental health support more accessible.' Article content Calm Health provides a personalized consumer experience designed to break through barriers for those seeking mental health support. It begins with an in-app mental health screening, paired with user inputs on physical health conditions and life experiences. Based on results, users receive tailored recommendations, including in-app mindfulness and sleep content, psychologist-developed digital programs or existing employer or health plan benefits. Calm Health integrates with employer and health plan benefits ecosystems to increase visibility and engagement across the full spectrum of care. Article content In the U.S., Calm Health has shown measurable impact, with 77% of users completing a mental health screening, a key driver of early intervention. Calm Health members are also twice as likely to engage in outpatient mental health care when needed compared to baseline groups*. The platform has also helped increase engagement with underutilized benefits and reached underserved populations, closing critical gaps in access and care, successes that set the foundation for global expansion. Article content 'The demand for accessible mental health resources in the UK has grown significantly, which we've seen through the strong adoption of Calm, both by individuals and employers,' said Alex Will, President at Calm. 'With Calm Health, we can now deepen our support by bringing evidence-based mental health resources to the market, designed to complement both the public health system and existing employer benefits. This expansion also allows us to better support companies with global teams by offering a single tool their people can rely on, wherever they are.' Article content In Canada, demand for mental health support is also rising, yet many people face significant barriers to accessing care, most commonly due to cost and limited availability of services. Article content Calm Health is currently available to more than 17 million people in the U.S. through employers, health plans, and providers, and is built to meet the needs of diverse populations. Designed with local regulatory requirements in mind, Calm Health complies with HIPAA and HITRUST standards in the U.S. and aligns with applicable data privacy laws in the UK and Canada. Article content Calm Health will expand to additional international markets later this year. To explore how Calm Health can support your populations, visit Article content Calm is a leading consumer mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Known for its flagship consumer app—ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across around 190 countries—Calm helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices. Building on this foundation, Calm has created a broader portfolio including evidence-based solutions like Calm Health, offered through employers, health plans and providers, designed to expand access to mental health and sleep support, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes. Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 17 million covered lives through Calm Health. Calm has been recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company and one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter. Learn more at Article content Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
19 hours ago
- Health
- Business Wire
Calm Health Expands Globally, Starting with UK and Canada
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Calm, a leading mental health company, today announced the international expansion of Calm Health, its evidence-based app that provides consumers access to mental health support through their employers, health plans or providers. Calm Health's global rollout begins in the UK and Canada, driven by growing consumer demand for accessible, scalable, and engaging mental health support. The expansion also gives multinational employers a single, unified solution extending Calm's impact across borders while streamlining support for global workforces. The need for mental health support is urgent: globally, more than 70% of people experiencing mental health challenges don't seek help, often due to stigma, uncertainty, or limited access. 'Most employers see less than 5% engagement with their employee assistance programs. Without engagement, we can't expect meaningful outcomes,' said David Ko, CEO of Calm. 'In the U.S., Calm Health is already driving above-average engagement across employer and health plan populations, a strong signal that we're meeting a critical need as demand rises here in the U.S. and worldwide. Expanding globally is a natural next step to make mental health support more accessible.' Calm Health provides a personalized consumer experience designed to break through barriers for those seeking mental health support. It begins with an in-app mental health screening, paired with user inputs on physical health conditions and life experiences. Based on results, users receive tailored recommendations, including in-app mindfulness and sleep content, psychologist-developed digital programs or existing employer or health plan benefits. Calm Health integrates with employer and health plan benefits ecosystems to increase visibility and engagement across the full spectrum of care. In the U.S., Calm Health has shown measurable impact, with 77% of users completing a mental health screening, a key driver of early intervention. Calm Health members are also twice as likely to engage in outpatient mental health care when needed compared to baseline groups*. The platform has also helped increase engagement with underutilized benefits and reached underserved populations, closing critical gaps in access and care, successes that set the foundation for global expansion. "The demand for accessible mental health resources in the UK has grown significantly, which we've seen through the strong adoption of Calm, both by individuals and employers,' said Alex Will, President at Calm. 'With Calm Health, we can now deepen our support by bringing evidence-based mental health resources to the market, designed to complement both the public health system and existing employer benefits. This expansion also allows us to better support companies with global teams by offering a single tool their people can rely on, wherever they are." In Canada, demand for mental health support is also rising, yet many people face significant barriers to accessing care, most commonly due to cost and limited availability of services. Calm Health is currently available to more than 17 million people in the U.S. through employers, health plans, and providers, and is built to meet the needs of diverse populations. Designed with local regulatory requirements in mind, Calm Health complies with HIPAA and HITRUST standards in the U.S. and aligns with applicable data privacy laws in the UK and Canada. Calm Health will expand to additional international markets later this year. To explore how Calm Health can support your populations, visit *Engagement data from one of Calm's large U.S. national health plan partners. For privacy and compliance, source name is anonymized. About Calm Calm is a leading consumer mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Known for its flagship consumer app—ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across around 190 countries—Calm helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices. Building on this foundation, Calm has created a broader portfolio including evidence-based solutions like Calm Health, offered through employers, health plans and providers, designed to expand access to mental health and sleep support, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes. Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 17 million covered lives through Calm Health. Calm has been recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company and one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter. Learn more at
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Calm Health Expands Globally, Starting with UK and Canada
Building on U.S. success, Calm Health launches internationally to help bridge care gaps, increase engagement with employer and health benefits, and scale access to mental health resources. PALO ALTO, Calif., June 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Calm, a leading mental health company, today announced the international expansion of Calm Health, its evidence-based app that provides consumers access to mental health support through their employers, health plans or providers. Calm Health's global rollout begins in the UK and Canada, driven by growing consumer demand for accessible, scalable, and engaging mental health support. The expansion also gives multinational employers a single, unified solution extending Calm's impact across borders while streamlining support for global workforces. The need for mental health support is urgent: globally, more than 70% of people experiencing mental health challenges don't seek help, often due to stigma, uncertainty, or limited access. "Most employers see less than 5% engagement with their employee assistance programs. Without engagement, we can't expect meaningful outcomes," said David Ko, CEO of Calm. "In the U.S., Calm Health is already driving above-average engagement across employer and health plan populations, a strong signal that we're meeting a critical need as demand rises here in the U.S. and worldwide. Expanding globally is a natural next step to make mental health support more accessible." Calm Health provides a personalized consumer experience designed to break through barriers for those seeking mental health support. It begins with an in-app mental health screening, paired with user inputs on physical health conditions and life experiences. Based on results, users receive tailored recommendations, including in-app mindfulness and sleep content, psychologist-developed digital programs or existing employer or health plan benefits. Calm Health integrates with employer and health plan benefits ecosystems to increase visibility and engagement across the full spectrum of care. In the U.S., Calm Health has shown measurable impact, with 77% of users completing a mental health screening, a key driver of early intervention. Calm Health members are also twice as likely to engage in outpatient mental health care when needed compared to baseline groups*. The platform has also helped increase engagement with underutilized benefits and reached underserved populations, closing critical gaps in access and care, successes that set the foundation for global expansion. "The demand for accessible mental health resources in the UK has grown significantly, which we've seen through the strong adoption of Calm, both by individuals and employers," said Alex Will, President at Calm. "With Calm Health, we can now deepen our support by bringing evidence-based mental health resources to the market, designed to complement both the public health system and existing employer benefits. This expansion also allows us to better support companies with global teams by offering a single tool their people can rely on, wherever they are." In Canada, demand for mental health support is also rising, yet many people face significant barriers to accessing care, most commonly due to cost and limited availability of services. Calm Health is currently available to more than 17 million people in the U.S. through employers, health plans, and providers, and is built to meet the needs of diverse populations. Designed with local regulatory requirements in mind, Calm Health complies with HIPAA and HITRUST standards in the U.S. and aligns with applicable data privacy laws in the UK and Canada. Calm Health will expand to additional international markets later this year. To explore how Calm Health can support your populations, visit *Engagement data from one of Calm's large U.S. national health plan partners. For privacy and compliance, source name is anonymized. About Calm Calm is a leading consumer mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Known for its flagship consumer app—ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across around 190 countries—Calm helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices. Building on this foundation, Calm has created a broader portfolio including evidence-based solutions like Calm Health, offered through employers, health plans and providers, designed to expand access to mental health and sleep support, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes. Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 17 million covered lives through Calm Health. Calm has been recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company and one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Erin Stolze | Communicationspress@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
