Wysa and Mednet bring mental wellbeing support to UAE 

Mednet has successfully launched a new program on the Mednet Health Pass app which is powered by Wysa, the world leader in AI for mental health. The launch event was opened with a positive address from the Dubai Health Authority and attended by hundreds of insurance leaders and brokers from the region.

The Dubai Health Authority made the case for mental health support in the UAE, reminding attendees of its plan to make mental health insurance mandatory in the near future. 57% of the UAE population suffer from at least one mental health disorder, with 56.4% having depression and 31.5% suffering from anxiety. As of 2017, the UAE had just 1.65 psychiatrists per 100,000 population. More than a third of the population felt their mental health deteriorated during the pandemic.

Renato Mattos, CEO at Mednet, said: “International employers understand the benefits of a team that is able to perform at its best and are now looking for better employee mental health support. The challenge is in overcoming stigma around mental health, which is particularly high in the region. We need a new way for people to get help, without having to ask for it. Our AI support, driven by Wysa, is completely anonymous, so it overcomes this barrier.”

Wysa combines science-backed AI conversation, clinically proven self-care exercises, and expert human support to create an all-encompassing 24/7 mental health solution. Mednet’s Mental Wellness Program is available to insurers and brokers and includes Wysa’s AI chatbot to listen and empathize. The AI guides users through relevant exercises from a library of over 100 tools that help with a range of mental health challenges including insomnia, stress, self-confidence, burnout, anxiety and depression. For those looking for more support, it includes five one hour long sessions with a wellbeing coach, and unlimited messaging with them between sessions.

Ramakant Vempati, Wysa’s founder and President, said: “Employees with symptoms of depression exhibit ‘presenteeism’ for 17.5% of the working day more than employees with no symptoms. This means they are not fully engaged and perform at lower levels. Our research shows that 74% of employees would rather speak to an app about their mental health than their HR team. By offering AI as the first step of care to employees we can overcome these challenges, so we are delighted to be able to bring Wysa to international employers and insurers in the UAE through Mednet.”