Working with AI startup Futr, CALM has been able to engage users at all times of the day and night, triage queries and connect them with the appropriate live agent.听

The AI and automation tool has supported 26,000 users and answered around 52,500 Q&As.

Use of the AI chat has enabled CALM to become a 24/7 support service with a near-immediate response time – where previously callers waited to speak to an available agent during specified opening hours.

At a time when the demand for mental health support is at an all-time high – especially as a result of the pandemic – CALM had to be able to direct resources towards those most in need, provide access 24 hours a day, and reach service users on the channels and apps they are comfortable with.听

As the charity鈥檚 chief executive officer, Simon Gunning, pointed out, it 鈥渨ill be able to radically scale our service provision through one route only 鈥� technology鈥�.

This meant embarking on a multi-year digital transformation programme so that it could make sure it helped as many people as possible. As part of that, CALM used Futr鈥檚 automated chatbot as the basis for a bespoke service, known as QBOT, which routes users down specific decision trees, providing support and guidance throughout.

/blog/2021/09/16/myndup-transforms-mental-health-for-50000-professionals/

Gunning said: 鈥淔utr has already helped us with this massive task through the development of a simple bot to assist people in our helpline queue and out of hours. We鈥檙e confident our relationship will continue through automated content discovery and AI-driven triage and that together, CALM and Futr will help huge numbers of people.鈥�

In the 11 months since the partnership began, a huge amount of traffic has been coming through, with QBOT having more than 26,000 connected users and 1.3 million messages The automated service has helped answer 52.5k questions with an average response time of 1.2 seconds, helping to reduce queue times.听

This is in addition to the 47.7k conversations that have already taken place through QBOT.

/blog/2021/09/13/dad-seems-like-his-old-self-thanks-to-smart-cup/

Seun Akindele, head of data and innovation at CALM, said: 鈥淭丑别 ability to provide our users with support in and out of live service hours, has been critical for us. Whether it is via live chat, Q&As or through our content, it is the first step in providing a best-in-class that suits our individual user needs.鈥�

Andy Wilkins, Co-founder and CEO at Futr said: 鈥淭丑别 need for the right mental health support has never been more recognised, but people in need of help have to be able to access those services in ways that suit them, at the time they need it. They can鈥檛 wait for office hours, which means organisations like CALM have to provide support every minute of the day. CALM鈥檚 commitment to its users is exemplary, and we are honoured to be able to support its vital and important work.鈥�

The post World Mental Health Day: AI boost for suicide prevention charity appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

Healios听says the funding will be used听to expand its life-changing platform and improve access to much-needed therapy programmes for families across the听country.听听

The Series A round was led by InHealth听Ventures with participation from existing investors听AlbionVC.听

Currently, one in eight听5-19–year–olds in the UK have a mental health disorder but two-thirds听are unable to access NHS care because of soaring demands and long听waiting lists. The听COVID-19 pandemic has intensified听demand even further.听

Since launching in 2013,听Healios听has transformed how children and听young people access therapy services in the UK. The听company has undertaken extensive digital transformation work with over 65% of NHS Mental Health Trusts to听provide clinician-led, expert care to children and young people living with conditions such as anxiety, low mood, autism and ADHD, as well as support to their families.听听

Healios鈥� virtual care platform delivers tailored digital interventions听including specialist clinical assessments, therapy sessions and bespoke support programmes through its employed network of clinicians, integrated tools, self-management apps and a telemedicine platform.听听

So far, more听than 70,000 specialised clinical sessions have been delivered through听Healios.听

It听takes a family-centric approach to assessment, therapy and听treatment plans, with听an听online, family-focused therapy programme for young people with psychosis and schizophrenia.听听

Healios听says it听will invest in听new assessment and treatment programmes, enabling it to make even more services available to the NHS and health organisations.听听

The London company will also expand its AI, machine learning and data science expertise, adding to a team whose headcount has already grown听by 116% since early 2020. In addition,听Healios听will be accelerating plans to expand internationally later this year.听听

InHealth Ventures and InHealth Group Chair, Richard Bradford, will听be joining the听Healios听board, alongside Cat McDonald of听AlbionVC.听听听

Rich Andrews, Founder and CEO of听Healios, said:听鈥淭丑别听UK is facing a mental health crisis. Demand听far听outstrips supply and technology has a vital role to play in closing that gap.听听

鈥�We鈥檙e immensely proud of the lives we鈥檝e already changed through听Healios. This funding will help us reach more families in need and听enable us to develop further sector-leading interventions and therapies.听听

鈥�By bringing together clinical experts and giving them the tools to reach their patients regardless of where they are, we are closing the access gap which has plagued mental health provision听for far too long.听听

鈥淲别鈥檙别听delighted to bring such esteemed investors onto the team as we deepen our clinical provision and expand our global reach. Both InHealth Ventures and existing investors听AlbionVC听bring with them highly specialised knowledge when it comes to navigating health听systems and scaling innovative healthcare technologies.鈥�听

Dr Ben Evans, Managing Director of InHealth Ventures, said:听鈥�Healios听is a standard bearer for healthcare innovation. They bring together clinical excellence with digital expertise, working in partnership with the NHS to address a critical, but complex area of care delivery.听听

鈥�Healios鈥� work to date speaks for itself; their holistic听approach to diagnosis and treatment has had a substantive impact on clinical outcomes and patient experience.听听

鈥�We鈥檙e thrilled to have led this round and are excited to partner with the听Healios听team as they continue their pioneering and hugely important work.鈥�听

Cat McDonald, Investor at听AlbionVC, said:听鈥�COVID听has engendered a pace of innovation previously unseen in healthcare.听In particular, we听have seen that remote care not only works, but often works much better than traditional alternatives.听听

鈥�The option to receive care remotely, at home and in a family-centric听setting is the strong preference of most kids suffering from poor mental health, which is why we are delighted to continue supporting the incredible听Healios听team as they continue on their mission of bringing accessible care to the next generation.鈥�

The post Start-up’s 拢7m funding to tackle children鈥檚 mental health crisis appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

Here are some great reasons to choose a home-based franchise as a parent:

Experience a reduction in stress

There are many stresses associated with work, but with a home-based franchise, you can alleviate a lot of your worries. Firstly, you don’t need to worry about finding the perfect premises because you already have them right where you live. What’s more, you won’t have to feel anxious about being late for work because you’re only a flight of stairs away from your own personal office. An even more appealing benefit to home-based franchises for parents is that you won’t have to deal with a negative workplace environment or office gossip. It is also likely that your children will be inspired by your renewed happiness and optimism too!

Working from home is more cost-effective

When you run your own business from the comfort of your home, one of the major benefits is the savings you will make on paying for premises. This lack of overheads translates directly into a boost for your profit margins. Low-cost franchises are excellent if you want to maximise your earnings, rather than sacrifice a portion of your profit in rental payments for premises. As less start-up money is generally required for home-based businesses, there is also less initial financial risk involved in your venture, which can be reassuring and put your mind at ease as you embark on your new franchise business.

You can set a great example for your children

For most kids, it is very rare that they get to see their parents in the full flow of their work and employment seems like an intangible concept to them. However, if you run your franchise from home, they will see the value in working hard and will be able to directly apply it in their own lives. This can be an excellent building block for their ethical growth and development and something they will remember as they grow up. It is likely to inspire them and spur them on in their own careers as they will have seen their devoted and dedicated parent fulfilling their ambitions and realising their goals.

Spend more time with family

Many can be run on a part-time basis and can work around your schedule. If there are certain hours or days when you cannot work, then you will be able to find deeper flexibility from this form of business. Working from home as a franchisee will allow you to wave your children off to school every single morning and to be there at home for them when they return every single afternoon. You will not have to worry about missing that school play or recital because it will be easy to tailor your work around your family commitments.

Increased productivity

If you are used to working in a hectic workplace, you’ll be aware that there can be times when it is almost impossible to focus your mind on work and blank out the distractions around you. In a home environment, that problem is significantly reduced because you can choose your own office space, decorate it in a way that makes it conducive to optimising your productivity and get on with your work. Interestingly, your increased happiness and relaxation in your home-based environment is also likely to spark an increase in your productivity levels as a global study has revealed that happy workers are .

Find the perfect franchise that suits you

There is a vast and varied range of home-based franchise opportunities to choose from, so you can select the kind of sector that really appeals to you and be your own boss! From consultancy to cars and eCommerce to entrepreneurship, there is a franchise to suit every parent. Whether you want to sell goods, provide a service or simply use your business to help the community, you will be able to find an option that entices and inspires you to start your own work from home franchise.

The potential for a new family business

For parents with older teenage or grown children, it can even be an opportunity to get them involved in the business too, as it may be something they would love to get on board with once they leave school. They may even be full of creative ideas from a different perspective!

The post Are you a parent wanting to work from home? If so a franchise could be a great option for you! appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

The virus itself has left a devastating impact upon many of us, while government efforts to bring it under control has led to a sea-change in our daily lives 鈥� both in work and out.听

The change in behaviours听has听thrown up many challenges, with mental health 鈥� already moving up the agenda prior to COVID 鈥� brought into even sharper focus.听And the effects will remain听long-term, with remote working set to continue to play a huge part in the future of many businesses.听

With this in mind, five听figures from the tech sector听explain their approach to looking after themselves and their staff.听

How has COVID-19 affected people鈥檚 mental health?听

鈥�As a result of the pandemic, the lack of 鈥榥ormality鈥� and increase in personal stress have caused many to struggle with their mental health,鈥澨�Felicia Meyerowitz Singh, CEO of听Akonihub, a London-based dynamic cash management platform, tells听老九品茶Cloud.听

鈥�Stress–induced factors like worrying about COVID-19, national lockdowns and just general uncertainty have made coping with work demands far more difficult.鈥�听

Colin Hewitt, CEO of听Float, a cash flow forecasting tool for small businesses, agrees. 鈥�There鈥檚 no denying that the pandemic has been tough on everyone鈥檚 mental health. From adjusting to remote working and having limited human contact, to wrapping your head around the daily news, uncertainty and all the global politics – it鈥檚 never been more important to pay attention to your own state of mind.鈥�听

There has been a rise in mental health problems in the last year, according to听Sabrina Munns,听head of听people and听culture听at听absence management software firm听e-days.听

鈥�69% of people stated that听the reason for their low moods or heightened anxiety听were听down to the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥� she says, describing the figure as 鈥渁larming鈥�.听

/wellbeing-tech-firm-hero-launches-into-elite-sport/

How can businesses support staff who are working remotely?听

Shane Lowe听is CEO and co-founder at听Vitrue听Health,听a HealthTech which provides musculoskeletal AI analysis.听

鈥淚t’s important that employers look after employees’ wellbeing as well as their own in our WFH world,鈥� he says. 鈥淗aving a safe and healthy work environment is essential for wellbeing and productivity, but when we work from听home听we also lose some of the human connection, routine and equipment that make office life physically and mentally sustainable.鈥�听

Akoni鈥檚 Singh recommends regular check-ins with staff members. 鈥淓nsuring colleagues are not feeling isolated is really important to maintain productivity,鈥� she explains.听听

鈥淪chedule regular virtual meetings which are informal in听nature, and听make them aware of the support available.听听

鈥淭echnology is here to stay. For many听start-ups听and smaller companies, they already have the tools to work remotely. However, many larger organisations do not and therefore it can be difficult to support staff members and maintain productivity.听听

鈥淏y embracing digital platforms, this can make long-winded work easier.鈥�听听听

Look after your mind 鈥� and body听

鈥�It鈥檚 all too easy 鈥� whilst focusing on the bigger picture 鈥� to overlook how the environment employees work in can be impacting their health, happiness and productivity levels, particularly when working from home,鈥� continues Lowe.听听

鈥淎 poor desk set-up can impact workers’ musculoskeletal health, resulting in serious health problems and a huge drop in productivity, which can in turn contribute to poor mental health.听

鈥淚nvesting in employees’ remote working set-ups 鈥� just as they would in a traditional office 鈥� is one way to boost productivity and mental and physical health: ergonomic equipment, good lighting and strong internet connections will facilitate quality work.听听

鈥淓mployers must also ensure that employees are educated on the health risks involved in working from home, and understand how good behaviours such as regular exercise, breaks and communication with team members can make all the difference.鈥�听

Physical activity is also recommended by Float CEO Hewitt. 鈥淓xercise makes a big difference to boosting endorphins. Having a buddy to hold you accountable really helps, or you could try out investing in a personal trainer to help you get started.听听

鈥淎nd plan time off, even though it can feel like it鈥檚 not worth taking time off at the moment: extending your weekend by a day might be just what you need.鈥�听

e-days’ Munns adds: 鈥�Providing online resources, encouraging daily exercise and healthy hobbies are helpful, but what about moving your weekly team catch up via Zoom, to a group 鈥榳alking鈥� call, so that you and your team have another opportunity to get some fresh air?鈥�听

/feature-submissions/

Should I make working days more flexible?听

Tom Lawson, CEO at digital transformation specialist听Opencast Software,听suggests taking a flexible听approach.听听

鈥�Many employees will feel as if their lives are out control听at the moment, so businesses should focus on creating a culture of flexibility that allows staff to make sensible decisions about how they work听鈥撎�whether听that means starting and finishing a bit later in the听day, or working around their childcare responsibilities,鈥� he says.听听

鈥�Providing teams with this added flexibility will not only result in a happier and more motivated听workforce, but听will also encourage employees to deliver high–quality work that will help the company achieve its longer–term goals.鈥�听

Munns says that to protect teams and those leading them, it is crucial that absence is prioritised within the business.听

鈥淲hatever your level, you must be supported and encouraged to take time off,鈥� she says. 鈥淭丑别 world of work has changed, but issues around managing absence and the impact to employees remain.听听

鈥淲e predict that despite working remotely, and employees being offered a more flexible work-life balance, that combating the thought process of 鈥榓m I too sick to work?鈥� will remain a challenge.听听

鈥淚f your junior execs see their C-suite taking time off to rest and look after themselves, it is likely they will follow this example too.鈥�听

Hewitt adds: 鈥淚n the winter I try to take a longer lunch and get outside in the afternoon before it gets dark. In the summer I鈥檒l try and finish up earlier to make sure I get the most听out of the lighter evenings.听听

鈥淢ore flexible working hours means the team can plan days with plenty of breaks and daylight to support their mental health.鈥�听

Where can people get help?听

鈥�No matter who you are, whether you are a founder, parent or completely alone, do not be afraid to ask for help or seek a service to help you cope,鈥� says Singh.听鈥�There are multiple ways to stay connected with services designed to support people during these times.听听

鈥�For founders, joining social media support groups can be very useful to tackle common issues such as burnout and staff retention. For employees, using external organisations designed to support individuals with their mental health are great resources. For example, the charity Mind UK.鈥�听

Leaders should also look to their teams for help, says Hewitt.听鈥淎sk for help if you鈥檙e feeling the pressure. You might not know what you need听鈥撎�but听your team might be experiencing something similar and might be able to help.听听

鈥�At Float we started using a Slack integration called Spill which provides remote mental health support to the team, whenever they need it.听听

鈥�From online video counselling sessions to downloadable resources, the service has been a big hit with the team.鈥�听

The post The Explainer: How to protect your mental health – and that of your team appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

Swedish firm Flow is the first drug-free, at-home treatment of its type to be medically approved in the EU and UK.听

In the largest user analysis of its type, 81% of patients using a brain stimulation headset and therapy app to treat depression reported feeling better after three weeks, with minimal side effects.听听

34% of patients reported an improvement in their mood, while 32% of patients reported a reduction in anxiety and 29% reported a reduction in suicidal thoughts.听

鈥淐OVID is changing how depression is managed, and driving a meaningful increase in demand for effective, at-home treatments that are safe, have minimal side effects and do not require a prescription,鈥� said听Daniel Mansson, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Flow.听听

鈥淭丑别 results in this user analysis are comparable to听antidepressants, and听demonstrate the significant benefits of using Flow to self-manage depression.听听

鈥�They add to the growing body of medical evidence that supports the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of depression – and gives further impetus for the NHS to add Flow as one of their first lines of treatment.鈥�听

The type of brain stimulation used in the Flow headset (tDCS) has been shown in numerous clinical randomised controlled trials, including New England Journal of Medicine and the British Journal of Psychiatry, to have a similar impact to antidepressants, but with fewer and less-severe side effects.听

UK clinics, including The Chelsea Psychology Clinic in London, are now offering patients the Flow treatment in combination with traditional therapy options.听听

Depression is the leading cause of global disability, affecting over 300 million people, with a huge cost for healthcare systems worldwide.听Nearly one in four adults in the UK are affected by a mental illness.听

The economic cost of mental illness in the UK is an estimated 拢105.2 billion,听and one in three work sickness notes handed out by GPs are for mental health reasons, including depression.听

While using the Flow听tDCS听headset, patients engaged with a therapy app program, which offers personalised behavioural therapy in areas proven to reduce symptoms of depression, including nutrition, exercise and sleep.听听

NHS trusts and healthcare professionals can now recommend the Flow app to patients as it was recently added to the ORCHA App Library.听听

The Flow headset is available to buy here and can be delivered in 48 hours. The Flow app is free to download on AppStore and听GooglePlay.听

The post Brain stimulation headset 鈥榟elps to beat depression鈥� appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.