In this story
About
Contact Energy is one of New Zealand’s highest profile and largest power companies. There are more than 1,100 employees all over the country, supplying electricity, gas and broadband to many thousands of New Zealanders every day.
In talking to their staff, they realised with more of their people taking up a hybrid approach to working that they needed a more flexible approach to their EAP services. Filling out paper based forms and getting manager sign off was making the process hard and creating barriers. In short, uptake of services was low and the business wasn’t seeing the benefits.
So, they called Clearhead.
Clearhead looks at wellbeing with more of a holistic view, rather than focusing on quite traditional mental health therapy.
Modern
Wellbeing Lead Aimee says the way Clearhead gives people ownership of their own mental health and wellbeing increases accessibility of the service, because its about so much more than counselling services.
“Clearhead looks at wellbeing with more of a holistic view, rather than focusing on quite traditional mental health therapy.”
Aimee, People Experience
Aimee also likes how Clearhead is a digitally savvy platform that’s available 24/7 - there’s no more filling in forms and waiting for replies, or calling helplines that are only available during office hours. “It’s really transparent in how people can access services and support,” she says.
Being able to see an image of a therapist and read their profile before you book, that’s had a massive impact on reducing the stigma of seeing somebody. It allows people to feel a connection before they book, and they’re more inclined to follow through with it
Removes the Stigma
As Clearhead made mental health more accessible, they noticed the stigma around it start to drop away. They liked the language that was used and the positive focus Clearhead had - it encouraged people to proactively work on their mental health. It put the power back in people’s hands and allowed them to have control of their own wellbeing.
“Being able to see an image of a therapist and read their profile before you book, that’s had a massive impact on reducing the stigma of seeing somebody for mental health and wellbeing support. It allows people to feel a connection before they book, and they’re more inclined to follow through with it”
Aimee, People Experience
One of the big advantages of Clearhead is how it helps Contact Energy’s People Experience department understand what’s going on in the workplace. Getting regular data reports into how Clearhead is being used and how staff feel about company culture, while being anonymised and confidential, allows them to focus on the issues that matter.
"It is beneficial to have real time data and insights into what is top of mind for our people. The data reporting and professional recommendations provided by the Clearhead team around how to address these concerns are what adds the real value."
"We can turn those insights into actions for our people at a company and individual level.”
We needed something to lead our thinking as well and give us some insight into what people need in this day and age, and what’s really beneficial. The data reporting and recommendations are what add the real value.
The Wellbeing Journey
Of course, wellbeing isn't a destination, but a journey. Contact Energy has been hard at work enhancing its company Wellbeing Strategy over time, and Clearhead is ecstatic to have played a part in this strategy and contributed to its outcomes.
By bolstering their current support system with 24/7 access to therapy bookings, our self-help library and resources, and a digital AI therapist, we’re grateful to help Contact set the standard for high-quality mental health support in the workplace.
