Uncovering a global “shadow pandemic”
Launched in 2022, through a partnership between distinguished Australian clinical psychologist, Dr. Simon Kinsella, and Mesh Ai, Simpatico Ai was created in response to the changing mental health landscape in workplaces around the globe. It is estimated that 12 billion working days are lost every single year as a result of depression and anxiety disorders.
Recognising that this “shadow pandemic” is also a very real problem in Australia, the federal government has enacted a number of measures, including updates to Australia’s Work Health and Safety Act that have made it mandatory for organisations to actively manage psychosocial risks.
With company boards seeking more effective ways to meet their new duty of care obligations, Simpatico Ai offers an accessible and cost effective AI-driven platform for those who need to manage the rising tide of mental health challenges in the workforce.
An (AI) revolution in employee mental wellness
Simpatico Ai’s Chief Science Officer, Dr Simon Kinsella, identified through his consulting work with a range of employers—as well as through clinical practise—that businesses, and their employees, didn’t have the right tools to properly manage workplace mental health issues outside of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). Over the years, EAPs have seen limited take up rates and the effectiveness of such programs in both Asia Pacific and around the world has left companies wanting more.
As a result, Dr Kinsella joined forces with a team of experienced startup executives and technologists who foresaw that a robust scientific approach, combined with the power of artificial intelligence, could act as the missing link:
“Ease of access to workplace mental health triage is critical so employees can self-assess and identify symptoms that may lead to potentially serious issues down the road, if left untreated. By identifying symptoms early and getting access to support resources from right within Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 allows staff to take control of their mental wellness, resulting in a happier and more productive workforce.”
What makes Simpatico Ai different is that the technology goes beyond mere symptom identification, helping companies to foster psychological safety and resilience through proactive, AI-driven employee engagement. The AI engine analyses employee interactions and activity levels to then automatically reach out with personalised support and resources, promoting early intervention and preventing issues before they arise. Such a holistic approach leads to a healthier and more resilient workforce bolstered by predictive and preventative healthcare practices.
A world-first for the Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft launched Copilot at the end of 2023 and this smart AI assistant—that is built into a number of Microsoft applications—is set to revolutionise workplace productivity. Simpatico 365, is the first global solution to leverage Copilot’s powerful capabilities right from within Microsoft 365, providing staff at all levels with ‘embedded psychological support’ at the press of a button.
As a result, employees can now have anonymous and personalised mental health conversations from within Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 environments, which gives businesses a cost-effective tools to engage and retain their workforce while meeting their legal obligations.
By combining the Simpatico Ai platform’s core AI functionality with the ubiquitous nature of the Microsoft communications and productivity stack—including Copilot—Simpatico Teams and Simpatico 365 provide a previously unseen level of workplace psychological support to employees at organisations of all shapes and sizes. According to Mesh Ai / Simpatico Ai CEO, Alistair Wardlaw:
“Simpatico Teams and Simpatico 365 are our answer to helping workplaces address mental health challenges with a scalable and enterprise-ready tech solution that is psychologically robust, scientifically validated and simple to integrate into any business that already uses Microsoft's suite of tools. For the first time ever, HR teams can have a finger on the pulse of employees’ aggregate mental wellbeing data and monitor changes as they occur.”
Designed with empathy, powered by technology
With research suggesting that people are more willing to open up to AI as opposed to generic forms or surveys, Simpatico Ai’s three-pillared and science backed framework empowers employees to take control of their mental wellness while getting the help they need without fear of judgment or stigma:
1. Assess
By leveraging Conversational AI technology to help employees self-assess via an anonymous, AI-driven mental health diagnosis engine.
2. Identify
Using a set of mental health reporting tools, employers can get a snapshot of their organisation’s overall mental health status, and identify high-risk groups and individuals, in real-time.
3. Support
HR and management teams can now have peace of mind knowing that they’re doing their best to uphold the mental health, safety and wellbeing of their entire employee base.
The modern solution our current work reality demands
With the lines between home and work becoming increasingly blurry, how companies manage and support their staff has never been more important. The benefits of incorporating Simpatico Teams and Simpatico 365 include the following:
Engaged employees and an inclusive culture –
Empowering employees to share their mental health challenges in their own words – rather than via a generic survey. By facilitating ongoing, anonymous and non-judgmental conversations about mental health, employers create an inclusive company culture by design.
Improved wellbeing and performance –
Having engaged employees who feel heard leads to lower turnover and a higher emotional connection to work, which in turn minimises absenteeism and presenteeism.
Unique, real-time insights for HR and leadership –
Through anonymised dashboards and data-driven insights, organisations can assess the broader mental health landscape of their workforce and respond in real-time. This proactive focus on early intervention approach helps to identify and prevent psychosocial risks before they arise.
Compliance with legal requirements –
Providing an accessible and ubiquitous method for employees to address mental health concerns ensures that employers meet duty of care and healthy workplace requirements as mandated by law, decreasing board-level governance risk.
