It’s been ten years since Japan implemented its mandatory Stress Check system in a bid to tackle the longstanding public health crisis tied to overwork and karoshi — a term meaning death by overwork. Introduced in 2015, the initiative was aimed at identifying high levels of stress among employees, requiring companies to survey their workforce on mental health annually.
Yet, despite these efforts, recent data reveals a disturbing trend: work-related mental health issues, particularly among younger workers, are getting worse.
According to surveys, employees under 30 are reporting increased levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout. Experts say that these numbers might only scratch the surface, as they don’t account for the many workers who refrain from disclosing their struggles due to the persistent stigma around mental health issues in the workplace. This hesitation is particularly pronounced in traditional corporate cultures, where workers often fear that admitting mental health challenges might lead to career repercussions or be seen as a sign of weakness.
NTT-AT Partners with Kintsugi for a Data-Driven Mental Health Solution
In response to this deepening crisis, NTT Advanced Technology (NTT-AT), the division of Japan’s leading telecommunications company NTT, has formed an innovative partnership with US-based mental wellness startup Kintsugi. This collaboration aims to shift how companies in Japan approach mental health, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to more accurately assess the psychological well-being of employees.
Kintsugi’s AI-driven solution, unlike the traditional Stress Check surveys that rely on self-reported data, analyses short voice clips in real-time to screen for signs of anxiety and depression. This advanced technology uses vocal biomarkers to detect subtle changes in speech patterns that may indicate mental distress. By offering an objective, data-driven method, Kintsugi enables NTT-AT to identify employees at risk of mental health challenges more effectively, without relying on potentially biased or incomplete questionnaire responses.
Toward a more personalised approach to mental wellness
“Stress Check questionnaires are often filled out in haste or even skipped altogether. Some employees might not feel comfortable being fully honest about their mental state,” said an NTT-AT spokesperson. “With Kintsugi’s technology, we can eliminate that subjectivity and focus on providing personalised support to each individual based on their unique mental health needs.”
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This partnership could mark a significant turning point in how Japanese companies manage workplace stress and mental wellness. While the Stress Check mandate was a necessary first step, the collaboration between NTT-AT and Kintsugi acknowledges that a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer sufficient for the complexities of today’s workplace mental health landscape.
A new era of mental health awareness in Japan’s corporate sector?
As Kintsugi continues to expand its AI capabilities, companies in Japan may begin to see a more nuanced understanding of their employees’ mental health. With mental wellness becoming an increasingly crucial part of workplace culture globally, initiatives like this could pave the way for more data-driven, individualised approaches that not only improve employee well-being but also enhance productivity and organisational morale.
However, the challenge remains: will the adoption of such advanced technologies be enough to break the stigma surrounding mental health in Japan’s corporate sector? While tools like Kintsugi can provide a clearer picture of an employee’s well-being, it’s up to companies to foster an environment where addressing mental health is not just encouraged but fully supported.
As Japan reflects on the past decade of mandatory stress checks, it’s clear that addressing workplace mental health is an ongoing journey—one that requires continuous innovation, cultural shifts, and most importantly, empathy.
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