The Path to Wellbeing Includes Emotional Health
August 16, 2021Employers today are placing an increased focus on the mental and behavioral health of their workers. As a society, people are discussing issues like depression and anxiety more openly and acknowledging how important it is to ask for help. At the same time, advances in technology and changes to health care delivery are making it easier to address mental health concerns and provide a more holistic approach to care.
As a society, we’re talking much more about emotional health than ever before. What was once a taboo topic and a sign of weakness, is now discussed openly.
The Impact of Emotional Health
In the U.S., mental health and substance use issues cost businesses $80 to $100 billion each year.1 And even though over 200 million workdays are lost due to mental health conditions annually ($16.8 billion in employee productivity), it remains a difficult subject for many people to discuss. Almost 60% of affected employees have never spoken to anyone at work about their mental health status.2
Today’s workforce demands a more open culture when it comes to emotional health, especially now with the effects of COVID-19 being felt across society. Employees need an approach that doesn’t just focus on mental or physical health, but on the entire person.
A Holistic Approach to Care
Guiding individuals to proper care means looking at all aspects of their well-being – physical and emotional – and meeting them where they are. And it starts with addressing some of the common challenges.
Health care is a complex industry. Most employees don’t encounter this complexity until they’re in the middle of a crisis trying to navigate the system. That’s why it’s important to have a health insurance provider that can surround them with care, support and solutions that are holistic and work for them.
Being able to connect with the right care professionals, including nurses, care managers, pharmacists, wellness consultants and more, is critical for an individual’s overall health care journey. By connecting employees with resources to help them lead healthier and more secure lives, you can enable them to not only manage disease, but also prevent it.
New Ways to Provide for Your Workers
For many people, nothing will replace a heart-to-heart conversation. Having access to a 24/7 nurse line can provide emergency resources to individuals in need along with the reassuring comfort of an actual voice on the other end of the line.
But just as attitudes toward mental health are changing, so are the delivery methods for treating people. When it comes to emotional health, sometimes it’s easier to communicate remotely. Speaking by video or texting with a doctor or therapist can feel more private and is now easier than ever. That’s why the importance of telehealth services for both physical and behavioral health has increased dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to telehealth, some insurance providers now offer care management apps that members can access from their smartphones or tablets. Through apps like Wellframe, provided by Univera Healthcare, case managers can assist members in managing medications and connecting with other resources for answers to health care questions — providing a holistic approach to health and making care easier to manage. The app has an emotional health care component with a 30-day Behavioral Health & Wellness Foundation program, covering general emotional health, wellness, and prevention topics.
Today’s workforce demands a more open culture when it comes to emotional health, especially now with the effects of COVID-19 being felt across society. Employees need an approach that doesn’t just focus on mental or physical health, but on the entire person.
Where Do We Go From Here?
We’re entering uncharted waters. The only certainty is that this generational pandemic will have lasting impacts on all of us. On our physical health, our financial health, and our mental health. Providing a synchronized approach to physical and emotional health, and getting the right tools, programs, and support into the hands of those who need it most will help make a difference.