From time to time, crisis descends on us all—companies included. At nilo.health, we know that acting swiftly and proactively is key to minimizing the effects and damage a crisis can cause, and that’s why we work with both companies and individuals to manage crises in a supportive, psychologically safe way.
In this case study, we’ll break down the actions nilo.health took to provide extra care and support during a crisis situation with one of our client companies.
nilo.health takes client confidentiality very seriously. As a result, we have anonymized all names (Company XY is our client) and modified events to make them unrecognizable.
Background
Company XY had been working with nilo.health for several months, having implemented a robust mental health support program that included counseling sessions with leading global psychologists, a self-guided library of digital tools, and live group formats to discuss mental health issues and tackle workplace problems.
However, a difficult financial situation meant Company XY had to face significant downsizing. Mass layoffs impacted both the organization and, of course, the employees. To offer support and minimize issues further down the line, nilo.health took proactive measures to provide additional mental health support during this challenging period.
Enhanced mental health support
nilo.health provided an action plan, strategic resources and extensive support as Company XY dealt with their crisis. Key stages included:
Crisis communication and transparency
Together with nilo.health, Company XY prepared a crisis communication plan. They maintained open and transparent communication channels throughout the weeks leading to and from the layoffs, ensuring employees were regularly updated on the situation. Clear communication, particularly post-layoffs, helped alleviate anxiety and provided employees with a sense of security and trust.
Dedicated mental health support on- and offline
Providing employees with immediate and focused mental health support during a challenging time was a key priority. To enable this, nilo.health equipped Company XY’s employees with crisis hotlines. One-to-one counseling sessions were encouraged and nilo.health facilitated same-day support with an experienced psychologist.
In addition, nilo.health’s dedicated team of mental health counselors and therapists were available for individual counseling sessions online as well as onsite support, providing employees with a safe space to express their concerns, fears, and emotions relating to the crisis.
“Proper & van Oostrom’s research in 2019 shows strong evidence that workplace psychological interventions have a positive effect on the prevention of mental health disorders,” says Dr. Katharina Koch, nilo.health’s Head of Psychology. “As such, our team strives to foster resilience and promote mental well-being even in a time of crisis, by providing immediate and evidence-backed support.”
Leadership support and training
Managers and team leads needed to be ready to provide appropriate support for their teams. nilo.health worked hard to equip them as such, providing them with appropriate training materials and literature specific to crisis management. nilo.health invited leaders to regular leadership roundtables, giving the chance to learn and grow in person. nilo.health also encouraged and facilitated regular check-ins with every team, giving leadership the chance to actively listen and provide empathy and support during these challenging times.
Outcomes and Impact
We’re thrilled to report that despite the upsetting and difficult crisis situation, nilo.health’s enhanced mental health support measures had multiple positive outcomes.
By the numbers, we saw:
- 94.3% of users either showed improvement or maintained their mental health status
- 96.7% of users reported they benefited very much from their use of nilo.health
- 62% of employees registered to use nilo.health, and 25% were active on the platform
And based on internal reporting from Company XY leaders and employees, we are pleased to also report:
- Increased employee resilience and coping abilities
- Strengthened employee trust and loyalty, particularly compared to other companies without mental health support post-layoff
- Enhanced organizational culture, leading to increased employee morale and engagement
Company XY is now in a stronger financial position, with a team who has increased confidence in their own abilities to face new challenges. And the shared commitment between nilo.health and Company XY has reinforced the organization’s commitment to prioritizing mental health support throughout all stages of the employee experience.
For nilo.health, the case of Company XY also confirmed our own internal research and hypothesis: company crisis is manageable, and can even be a positive turning point. For Company XY, two aspects were crucial: the fact that they already had mental health support in place for their employees, and their fast action when crisis became apparent.
To learn more about nilo.health’s capacity to help your company, get in touch today.
