Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Telecoaching Delivered Through an Employer-Sponsored Mental Health Benefits Platform.

Introduction: Coaches delivering telemental health services as part of an employer-sponsored benefit may increase access to affordable and effective care. We examined the effectiveness of evidence-based telecoaching delivered via videoconferencing to people requesting mental health services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from 1,228 employees (mean age = 35 ± 8 years; 67.2% female) who utilized telecoaching through the Modern Health benefits platform between March 11, 2020 and March 11, 2021. We used paired samples t tests to examine changes in well-being, burnout, absenteeism, and presenteeism before and after telecoaching and moderated regressions to test whether these changes depended on visit utilization. We analyzed rates of clinical improvement for well-being and reduction from entry in symptoms for burnout. We conducted analyses in the full sample and participants presenting with elevated symptoms at baseline. Results: Participants utilized an average of 2.6 visits. Well-being (p = 0.02) significantly increased, while both presenteeism (p < 0.001) and absenteeism (p < 0.001) significantly decreased at follow-up in our full sample, but represented negligible effect sizes. Burnout was not found to have significantly changed at follow-up in our full sample (p = 0.69). In participants beginning care with elevated depressive-related symptoms, well-being significantly increased (p < 0.001) and 46.3% experienced a clinically relevant improvement. In participants beginning care with elevated levels of burnout, burnout significantly decreased (p < 0.001) and 20.9% experienced a reduction in symptoms from entry. Conclusions: Leveraging videoconferencing, telecoaching had positive effects on mental health and workplace outcomes, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence-based telecoaching represents a promising option for achieving optimal outcomes in people who need mental health services.

A method to analyze the sectoral impact of Fiscal support for COVID-19 affected economies: The case of Oceania.

In this paper, we apply the method of computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling in economics to ascertain how fiscal support measures such as wage subsidies, small business loans, and finance guarantee schemes have impacted at an economy-wide and sectoral level for 8 COVID-19 affected economies in Oceania. We model our scenarios based on IMF World economic outlook projections, combined with the fiscal stimulus packages offered to counter this global health pandemic's recessionary effect. Our study confirms that the adverse impact of COVID-19 on output is cushioned through a large fiscal stimulus package wherever offered. This package would still be inadequate to avoid unemployment and job losses in tourism and education services in Oceania, with continued support essential for their survival in 2021.•The approach entails steps (1) to (3), as outlined in the paper.•Future researchers will find this method useful in evaluating the adverse impact of not only COVID-19 but any other external shocks to the economy, either directly or indirectly, that involves fiscal support mechanisms.