The Impact of Mental Health on Business Travelers

Mental Health of business travelers is by far the most commonly ignored subject despite the challenges faced by these travelers. Most individuals and organizations that they represent are now opening up and acknowledging the negative effect that business travel has on their Mental Health. In terms of its magnitude, almost half of the business travelers experience alteration of their mood during travel that influences their daily conduct, both, personal and professional. The most common types of mental illness prevalent amongst business travelers are depression followed by stress and anxiety. Dr.Rahul Kalia, Medical Director, International SOS, India shares his valuable inputs on this crucial subject.

1. What causes mental stress among business travelers?

Increased working hours while travelling, due to enhanced accessibility is a factor. The advancements in technology are considered to be amongst the significant factors leading to heightened stress levels.

2. What are the key recommendations to avert mental health illness at work trips?

•        To foster business productivity and fulfill Duty of Care in a sustained way, organizations need to understand how they can protect the mental health and physical wellbeing of their employees while traveling.

•        If organizations do not have a wellbeing program or policy in place, taking the time to review this and factor mental health support into it as a priority is recommended.

•        It’s imperative to understand the challenges posed by travel. Businesses should consider sensitization on different needs for those who are regularly traveling for business and those who take assignments abroad.

•        Business traveler issues can be circumnavigated with access to appropriate support – access to those trained to deal with the psychological fallout of travel or, in the worst case scenario, exposure to traumatic events like major road accidents, or even terror events.

•        International assignees, even the most seasoned can be put under huge amounts of stress due to their remoteness from their support system, ability to talk to new colleagues, or even the sheer newness of their environment. Consider pre-checks to assess the appropriateness of an environment for an assignee, or uncover pre-existing mental health issues that could be aggravated in a new environment.

3. What kind of support measures is available for working professionals?

Mental health issues can be pre-emptied but it needs a high level of awareness within a company. Professional services on Mental Health are available through a few reputed companies in Asia and worldwide. These services span from pre-travel preparation of employees to addressing evolving mental health issues during travel and also post-travel.

4. Discuss any recent study surrounding this issue?

KEEPING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRAVELLERS HEALTHY, HAPPY AND ENGAGED AT HOME AND AWAY, a study commissioned by the International SOS Foundation, a not for profit organization explores this subject and highlights key challenges and potential solutions.

The study uncovers that many organizations are not set up to deal with the issues at large: 61% of organizations do not have resources for mental health support and 60% do not have a wellness program in place at their company.

5. Leave a comment/summary note for readers?

Mental Health is now beginning to receive its due attention today. The concern is highlighted by the rising fears of the negative outcomes and effects of declining mental health. A concerted effort to enable raising awareness amongst the senior leaders and business travelers followed by implementing appropriate mitigation steps are seen to recipe for containing the impact mental health issues amongst employees and business travelers.