Promoting Positive Mental Health with Wearables

Can wearable technology have a positive impact on mental health? It is a question that has plagued researchers since the rise of wearable technology in 2014.

Over the last 5 years, there has been a steady increase in the adoption of wearable technology. Just last year, more than 125 million devices were sold worldwide. With increasing popularity, the market is demanding more functionality out of these devices and users are beginning to look for ways to improve their health on a holistic level, stretching far beyond just their physical health.

While wearable devices are often used primarily to track the rate of physical exertion, including number of steps and calories burned, they can also be used for sleep tracking and guided meditation. In addition, certain wearables can be used as emotional sensors, measuring a user’s mental state by tracking their body temperature and heart rate.

Mental health impacts the overall safety of your workplace, as high stress work environments can lead to a variety of workplace issues – including low productivity rates, increased number of accidents, and absenteeism. Wearables promote positive mental health and allow employees to directly manage their stress. For instance, wearables can prevent potentially harmful stress episodes by suggesting breathing exercises once it detects a user’s high heart rate and increased body temperature.

Educating employees on the various ways they can monitor and improve their mental health improves employee morale, increases productivity, and helps create an overall safer work environment.