The COVID pandemic has brought about many changes, widening our scope and prevalence for remote teams. What first emerged out of necessity has now become a potential long-term solution even when the pandemic is long gone. It has become more important than ever to make sure employees feel supported and cared for even when we feel out of reach.  

70 million Americans live with a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) issue, which is more than those living with mental illness and twice the number of diabetes patients in the United States. With mental health and diabetes holding a top priority spot among employers, digestive health is often overlooked but has a direct impact on employee presenteeism and absenteeism. 

Treating GI issues can provide meaningful value when it comes to employee’s productivity and overall quality of life. While a significant indication to treat, GI issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be a taboo topic of conversation. So how do you support your remote teams in a taboo area like gut health?

Taboo in the workplace

When you are suffering from gastrointestinal issues, the last thing you want to do is shout it from the mountain top. So, it is quite likely that you may have employees on your team suffering in silence. In fact, a study conducted by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), showed that three in 10 IBS sufferers make an excuse when they have to miss work or activity due to their symptoms.

Those suffering from IBS not only feel embarrassed due to their condition but can also experience bouts of loneliness and isolation due to it as well. Those with IBS find that they limit themselves from activities and social events they once loved because of the unpredictable nature of their condition. Inside of work, they become less productive and lack focus. In more severe cases, it can be hard to even complete basic work tasks because of their painful symptoms. This frustrating cycle can leave many desperate to find a lasting solution. 

A solution for a happy mind and gut 

IBS can lead to a variety of different mental health conditions that can leave your employees drained. More than 50 percent of IBS patients who seek care reported having condition-related anxiety and depression, as well as a lowered resilience to stress. Additionally, it is not uncommon for IBS to coexist with fatigue and patients are more likely to feel burnt out from work. Due to these comorbidities, it is crucial to find an integrative solution that provides remedies for both the mind and the gut. 

This type of integrative solution has proven to be the most effective in addressing the root cause of gut dysfunction but the lack of specialized providers and cost pose significant barriers to treatment. 

However, Bold Health is on a mission to bridge that gap! Bold Health offers virtual GI care, empowering people to transform their gut health through a suite of effective evidence-based digital solutions and an integrated care team. Providing end-to-end care, we digitalize the most efficacious behavioral and psychological tools for patients to self-manage their symptoms along their integrated virtual care journey. Our 12-week core program enables users to:

1. Lead themselves through a program based on proven evidence-based therapies 
2. Work with an integrated care team that provides personalized quality care
3. Have a community they feel safe sharing their trials and tribulations
4. Do the work on their own time, in their own space

Using digital self-care solutions can be an easy and effective way to support your employees’ gut health and overall wellbeing. 

Bold Health is committed to providing this type of solution to improve employee gut health at scale. Reach out to schedule a demo for your team today. 

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