The 3 things clients need from a mental wellness offering
Key fact: 90% of companies are investing more in workplace mental health benefits1
According to conventional wisdom, the most important components of an employee benefits package are paid vacation, medical, dental, and a retirement plan. But maybe it’s time for a rethink: Not that employees don’t want those benefits – they emphatically do – but since the pandemic, there’s a growing realization they also need support for the increasing stresses of work and life.
EAPs are valuable – but are broad in scope
What about existing resources that offer access to mental health services, like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)? These programs still serve an essential role in helping with a broad spectrum of needs--and a great way to start adding value is by offering ideas to maximize Employee Assistance Program engagement. Still, EAPs may best address more short-term, critical mental health issues. Pairing the benefits of an EAP with a proactive, dedicated mental health solution helps provide ongoing support as mental wellness needs evolve.
Employers are realizing they need a single “front door” for mental health benefits
Companies are embracing a variety of ways to address employees’ mental well-being needs, from digital well-being apps to telehealth counseling, stress management programs, and more. And while it makes sense to offer different options, when employees are unsure which choice makes the most sense for their needs, they may hesitate to take advantage of any resource.
That’s why the concept of a “front door” is gaining momentum. Guardian has partnered with Spring Health to provide this type of solution: a single starting point to access mental well-being resources. Employees’ needs are assessed, and they are quickly matched with the right providers and support. Correctly implemented, these services can provide a number of benefits for employees and companies alike, including faster recovery times, reduced absenteeism, and the increased productivity that results from improved overall well-being.2 But for an employer to realize these benefits, a solution has to provide three advantages compared to their current wellness offering:
1. Immediate access to resources
It typically takes about 21 days to connect an employee to a therapist3. But when someone is in crisis, they can’t wait three weeks to get care. A front door solution should offer 24/7 crisis support and access to a diverse network of providers. Even better, it should then schedule an appointment with the best match in real time. This is what Spring Health can do, and a big reason why Spring Health is able to reduce the average time to the first available appointment to less than 2 days4. In cases where therapy isn’t recommended, Spring Health can provide immediate access to a broad array of CBT-based (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) tools that provide personalized support for a full spectrum of mental health needs and conditions.
2. Personalized, precise care
Fast access to care isn’t enough. Employees need to get the right kind of care. What’s more, someone experiencing depression or another mental health condition shouldn’t be expected to know what to ask for, or be able to self-diagnose. So rapid, accurate assessment processes are essential. Spring Health uses proprietary machine-learning technology to screen for specific conditions and provide a personalized care plan for each member5. Follow-up is also essential. That’s why every member is given a dedicated Care Navigator, a licensed mental health professional who supports and advocates for members throughout their entire journey.
3. Real results
Companies are willing – and even eager – to invest in these kinds of advanced mental health resources, but they also need to be able to justify that investment with tangible outcomes. Spring Health’s comprehensive reporting provides enrollment and utilization data to help assess common employee conditions and drive clinical improvements in anxiety, depression, and productivity. Spring Health is also able to demonstrate ~70% reliable improvements in anxiety and depression6 and 24% increase in productivity7. What’s more, mental wellness services through Spring Health integrate into Guardian disability and leave claim management processes, offering proactive outreach for support when a person is on medical or disability leave, which helps drive administrative cost savings.
1 in 6 US adults takes psychiatric medication8. And 75% of employees report experiencing burnout9.
Companies are being challenged to find solutions to problems they never had to deal with. But these challenges also present an opportunity. As a broker, you may never have a better chance to cement your relationships with clients – and win new ones – than by bringing them real solutions to help address these real issues.
