NextIn Business: Switzerland’s AI-Powered Response to the Workplace Mental Health Crisis

One in three sick notes in Switzerland stems from mental health issues, with workplace stress as the primary culprit. As the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the global burden of disease, Swiss deep tech companies are pioneering solutions that transform how organizations support employee wellbeing before a crisis hits.

The “NextIn Business” television series, supported by Deep Tech Nation Switzerland and the Gebert Rüf Stiftung, highlights this challenge in its first episode. The program focuses on how technology and AI can bridge the gap between reactive wellness programs and proactive, preventative mental health support.

At institutions like Basel’s Merian Iselin Clinic, stress manifests in familiar patterns: irritable team dynamics, increased absences, and employees struggling to find balance. “In the past, it was easier to compensate for this in your private life,” explains Jennifer Lutz, who leads the clinic’s health management program. She notes these traditional safety nets, such as finding support from colleagues at work, have eroded. When stress compounds, intervention becomes critical. The clinic’s strategy focuses on “prevention, recognizing the problem, addressing it, and then looking for and finding a way to cope”.

Swiss startups are developing new tools to enable this shift. Kyan Health, a Zurich-based startup featured in the program, uses artificial intelligence to move beyond generic support. “With AI, we are able to quickly and scalably identify what exactly the stress is,” co-founder Konstantin Struck explains in the episode. “And then we can go deeper and identify where it comes from”. This approach allows the platform to act as a “quick guide,” leading users directly to the content they need.

Kyan Health’s model, developed by co-founders (including CEO Vlad Gheorghiu and Konstantin Struck) who previously worked at McKinsey, has attracted significant backing. The company has raised a total of $18.4 million, including a Series A round led by Swisscom Ventures, to scale its AI-powered platform globally.

This data-driven approach is complemented by new models of care delivery. SWICA’s santé24 platform, for example, offers remote psychological support that fits seamlessly into employee schedules. Psychologist Micheline Huber, who heads this area, describes their solution-oriented coaching as meeting employees where they are. “This has the great advantage that appointments can be made more flexible,” she says. “It fits in well with the everyday life of employees,” eliminating logistical barriers like travel time that often prevent people from seeking help.

The episode also highlights the crucial element of destigmatization through authentic conversation, featuring Swiss singer Stefanie Heinzmann. She speaks openly about her own experiences with crises, which she says were mostly “internal” and left her feeling overwhelmed. By sharing her journey and the tools that helped her, including remote therapy sessions, Heinzmann helps normalize help-seeking behavior. “I am convinced that we all have this kind of power,” she states.

The Merian Iselin Clinic’s partnership with santé24 demonstrates tangible results from this integrated approach. Lutz reports “fewer absences” and, most importantly, a “much more trusting manner” for addressing employee wellbeing. When someone recognizes they need support, immediate access prevents manageable stress from escalating. This Swiss model, combining AI-driven personalization with accessible human coaching, redefines workplace wellness as a strategic, preventative, and data-informed imperative.