Workers given mental health monitors to wear

Grant Prior 6 years ago
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Civils contractor Spencer Group is giving staff wearable devices which allow them to log their mood and monitor their emotional wellbeing.

Managing director Gary Thornton is among staff trying-out the devices from health tech start-up Moodbeam.

Users touch a blue button for “anxious” or yellow for “calm” and the data is collected online alongside information about the wearer’s activity and sleep patterns to see how they affect their wellbeing.

Spencer is one of the first businesses to adopt Moodbeam and offer it free to all interested staff members.

Human Resources Director Yvonne Moir said: “Everybody has some anxiety in their life – that’s perfectly normal. It’s when that anxiety becomes overwhelming that it becomes a problem.

“The beauty of Moodbeam is that it helps people to pinpoint periods of anxiety and times when they are feeling calm or happy.

“It will help them to put measures in place to manage and control their anxiety, where appropriate with the support of managers or colleagues.

“Mental health wellbeing is a real challenge within the engineering sector. It can be a very stressful environment and we know that, unfortunately, suicide rates are high in the construction industry.

“We believe having access to the Moodbeam device will support our people and help them to manage their anxieties.”

Training administrator Sarah Jarvill is one of the first staff members to try out the device, said:

She said: “I do feel anxious sometimes, so I thought it would be really good to be able to track and analyse why I feel as I do at certain times and identify triggers for those feelings.

“I think it’s really good that the company is offering this to staff. It makes you realise you’re not on your own, that people are interested in your wellbeing and the company is ready to provide the support you need if you’re struggling.”

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