America's Benefit Specialist October 2023

BENEFIT PROFESSIONALS ARE KEY TO SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYER RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

By Christine Cooper CEO, aequum LLC Cleveland, Ohio ccooper@aequumhealth.com

Our nation continues to experience a surge in post-pandem ic demand for mental and behavioral health services. Despite a critical need for mental health support, Americans still struggle to access and afford clinical counseling and therapy. Mental health issues impact employee populations and productivity in the workplace. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost each year to mental health episodes at a cost of $1 trillion dol lars. Finding cost-effective ways to offer affordable mental and behavioral health services to employees and their family members continues to be a challenge. Benefit professionals, especially consultants, brokers, claims administrators and agents, are in a key position to support plan sponsors and plan administrators—by recom mending the best plan designs, compliance strategies and resources.

RESPONDING TO A CRISIS President Biden declared a national mental health crisis during his 2022 State of the Union Address, unveiling an ambitious plan that received bipartisan support to provide for the nation’s mental and behavioral health needs. The Surgeon General also released a framework for mental health and well-being in the workplace, outlining guidance for policies, processes and practices to support millions of employees. According to a policy issue brief released by the White House, at the center of our national mental health crisis is a severe shortage of providers. This claim is substantiated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, affirming there is a general shortage of mental health professionals able to provide care—one provider for every 350 people in need of clinical services.

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