Supporting the Mental Health of Corporate eLearning Users

Disclaimer: The post on is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

Corporate eLearning offers the chance to gain new skills and stay updated on essential processes. According to the Harvard Business Review, a staggering 70% of employees believe they lack the skills needed to do their jobs. This highlights a significant gap in workplace training.

However, when online courses, designed to fill knowledge gaps, become a source of stress, this can seriously impact employee mental health and hinder their ability to learn effectively.

Between deadlines, clunky interfaces, and uninspiring content, eLearning can add to the feeling of being overwhelmed, making it even harder to learn effectively. It’s time to change the conversation and prioritize the mental well-being of employees within the eLearning environment. Let’s explore strategies to make these programs less stressful and more supportive.

The Pressures of Corporate eLearning

Employees are the heart of any organization, and their development is crucial for the growth and success of a company. However, the traditional corporate training model has often been outdated and ineffective. Online learning offers convenience and flexibility, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.

Employees are expected to juggle multiple priorities, including their daily workload and eLearning assignments. We’ve all experienced the frustration and mental exhaustion that can stem from poorly designed eLearning courses where the content doesn’t align with the learning objectives or is presented in a dry and unengaging manner.

A number of challenges contribute to the stress and pressure faced by corporate eLearning users, including:

• The ticking clock: Mandatory training with strict deadlines puts employees under pressure. The anxiety of keeping up with the schedule can create its own distraction, hindering focus.
• Dull or dry courses: Boring or generic content fails to engage the learner. You struggle to maintain focus while trying to just get it over with.
• Tech troubles: Technology glitches and unresponsive courses add frustration and disrupt your flow. This turns learning into a draining struggle.
• Feelings of isolation: The online world can make it easy to feel disconnected. This lack of real-time human interaction leads to disengagement and demotivation.

These pressures aren’t imaginary — they’re backed by science. Mental exhaustion, frustration, and boredom affect our brains, making it harder to focus, absorb information, and think critically. Long-term, this constant stress can contribute to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.

Chronic stress and burnout not only harm the individual, but they also have a significant impact on the company’s bottom line. High stress levels and disengagement can lead to lower productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover rates. This makes it crucial for companies to prioritize their employees’ mental well-being in their eLearning strategies.

Fostering a Mentally Supportive eLearning Landscape

Companies have a responsibility to support the mental well-being of their employees. But how can your organization make eLearning a less stressful and more supportive experience? Here are key ways they can improve eLearning for your employees:

• Empathetic design: Training programs should be created with the user in mind. Courses should be genuinely engaging, relevant to the job, and respectful of employees’ time and workload. Think short, digestible modules, varied activities, and options for self-paced learning.
• Flexibility is key: Allowing employees greater control over when and how they complete training reduces stress and improves focus. Wherever possible, provide flexibility in pacing and scheduling.
• Accessibility matters: Design eLearning courses with accessibility top-of-mind. Regardless of ability, everyone should be able to navigate and progress through materials without undue challenge.
• Connection and community: Create opportunities for learners to interact with each other and their trainers. Online forums, discussion boards, or virtual meetings combat feelings of isolation and support the learning process.

When you prioritize your employees’ mental health, you create a more positive and supportive learning environment and empower them to reach their full potential. By incorporating these strategies, companies can ensure that eLearning is an effective tool for employee growth rather than a source of stress and frustration. 

Expanding Support: Additional Strategies for Companies

 As you improve the eLearning experience for your employees, you’ll also need to enhance the overall work environment to ensure optimal engagement and productivity. Here are a few strategies for companies to consider:

• Promote open feedback: Create a culture where employee feedback on eLearning is welcomed and taken seriously. This environment shows your commitment to improvement and helps tailor training for maximum positive impact.
• Gamification: Make learning fun and engaging. Use elements of game design — points systems, challenges, and rewards – to boost motivation and reduce boredom.
• Microlearning: Break down complex topics into short “bite-sized” lessons. This type of learning makes training feel less daunting and easier to fit into a busy workday.
• Mindfulness breaks: Offer optional short mindfulness exercises, like guided meditations, throughout courses. These breaks can help employees manage stress and improves focus for better learning.
• Normalize mental health: Encourage open conversations about mental health in the workplace. Destigmatize seeking help by offering support resources and promoting mental well-being as a core value.

Offering a well-rounded, supportive eLearning experience requires collaboration between companies and their employees. In addition to revamping the eLearning experience itself, organizations should offer targeted support for employees’ mental health.

Mental Health Resources

Providing access to mental health support services such as counseling or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can be invaluable for employees facing stress and burnout. EAPs offer confidential counseling and resources to support employees in managing their mental health.

Educate employees about these resources and encourage their use to promote healthy coping and resilience. Free online cognitive behavioral therapy and virtual wellness platforms can also provide support for employees at any time.

Mindfulness and Stress Reduction Options

Mindfulness can reduce stress and promote mental wellness. You can incorporate stress-reducing techniques like short meditations or breathing exercises into your eLearning programs or offer these resources separately.

When employees are feeling overwhelmed, mindfulness exercises can help them refocus and recharge, improving their ability to learn effectively. Encouraging employees to practice self-care through activities like yoga, exercise, or simply taking a break from work can also have a positive impact on their mental health.

The Path Forward: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health and eLearning

Corporate eLearning has tremendous potential to elevate employees’ skills and advance the goals of an organization. But to fully realize this potential, employers must shift from a knowledge-download mindset to one that genuinely values the well-being of their workforce. Investing in the mental health of employees is an investment in the company’s future.

By prioritizing employee-centered design, offering flexibility, creating space for connection, and providing robust mental health resources, companies foster a workplace where employees are both empowered and supported. This isn’t just about creating less stressful training courses — it’s about a fundamental culture change.

The traditional model of workplace training is outdated. Prioritizing employee mental health within a supportive eLearning environment is both compassionate and strategically sound. Companies that embrace this shift will reap the rewards of a thriving, productive, and innovative workforce, positioning themselves for long-term success in an ever-evolving business landscape.