The nation's mental health epidemic is another unwelcome legacy of the pandemic. However, growing awareness of the scope and cost of behavioral health has prompted a wave of action and adoption of new technology to help employees get the help they need.
Pre-pandemic, employers and their advisers were increasingly aware of the importance of behavioral health services and the relationship between mental health, physical health and productivity. The outbreak of depression, anxiety and substance abuse during the pandemic heightened the need for new approaches. Rates of depression and anxiety among U.S. adults were about four times higher during the pandemic compared to the year before COVID-19, and death by overdoses increased by nearly 30% during the same period.
Certain groups of employees were more affected than others. The number of millennials and Gen Z-ers leaving roles for mental health reasons also increased during the pandemic. These younger workers are more likely to change jobs due to mental health problems than are older employees.
Read more: How to support employees who are struggling with their mental health
The expectations of workers themselves also forced employers to increase resources dedicated to addressing mental health needs. Nine out of 10 employees of all ages believe that a company's culture should support mental health, and 63% would like their employer to spend more on health and well-being initiatives. If employers don't act, their workforce is more likely than ever to vote with their feet, increasing turnover and losing valuable expertise.
Employers' efforts to meet this burgeoning demand are often stymied by a lack of therapeutic resources. One in three individuals with private insurance said they had difficulty finding a therapist who would accept their coverage, and many therapists do not take insurance at all. Finally, many individuals are still reluctant to seek treatment because of the stigma attached to therapy and mental health challenges.
Fortunately, the explosion in digital and telehealth technology during the pandemic provides alternatives that can overcome these barriers by identifying those who need help and getting them the services and support they require. Here are four such innovations:
1. The use of telepsychology more than doubled during the pandemic. Many patients had their first experience getting health care via their phones and computers. Remote treatment options made it more convenient and confidential for employees to get professional help, and therapists reported high treatment effectiveness using telepsychology.
Read more: Give employers the tool kit to support employees' mental health
2. Screening protocols and automated prompts help case managers overseeing care for injured workers identify patients who may be developing depression, anxiety or sleep disorders, which are often correlated with pain and major life changes. If warranted, these trained nurses can intervene with clarifying questions, coaching and referrals for longer-term therapy to prevent delays in recovery and return to work.
3. Predictive analytics is now used to identify patients taking potentially addictive medications who may be sliding into addiction, allowing for interventions and lessening the potential for dependence or overdoses.
4. The combination of virtual reality and behavioral coaching is proving to be highly effective not only in relieving chronic pain, but also in reducing depression, anxiety and PTSD. The virtual reality experience leads to the formation of new neural pathways in the brain, bypassing the signals for pain and discomfort. At the same time, coaching helps patients resume engagement with the larger world, make plans for recovery and chart a path forward. Research documents this therapy's effectiveness in resolving pain and mental health issues without drugs or surgery.
Read more: Why employers need to think beyond mental health apps and chatbots for their benefits
These four innovations lead to early detection, intervention and resolution of mental health disorders, shortening treatment time, avoiding and reducing the incidence and duration of problems, and overcoming the lack of access to a therapist. New technology makes treatment at home possible, adding convenience and avoiding the stigma for many patients.
As awareness of the incidence and cost of mental health in the workforce continues to grow, these technology solutions will make it possible for employers to directly impact employees' wellbeing in a positive way.
