COVID-19 has worsened a mental health crisis, say EBRI responders
The COVID-19 pandemic “is a watershed moment in a series of defining issues” regarding the mental health of American workers and their families.
That was the word from Katy Riddick, senior director of One Mind At Work, who spoke at the Employee Benefits Research Institute’s spring policy forum.
Workers had mental health issues before the pandemic hit, she said, and found a lack of mental health support during this time. COVID-19 has introduced new pressure on workers or exacerbated existing problems. To make matters worse, she said, many people have suffered trauma, grief and loss as a result of the pandemic and the resulting shutdown.
“We were in the midst of a mental health crisis before the pandemic,” Riddick said. “But we added to that a whole set of new challenges and asked people to adapt to general societal measures as well as individual circumstances.”
Twenty percent of employees report experiencing symptoms of depression, she said, while 5% say they live with depression.
The pandemic has also caused a shift in how employers view mental health, Riddick said. Previously, employers responded to workers who suffered from an acute mental health problem or serious mental illness. Now, employers are focusing more on the entire workforce.
“Everyone in your organization brings mental health to work every day; they could all benefit from help,” she said.
Employers are responding to their workers’ mental health using a three-pronged approach, Riddick said.
- To be aware. Address cultural and workflow expectations as well as health benefits.
- To be informed. Develop a mental health support strategy based on emerging expectations for the employer’s role and measure the impact of programs.
- be an example. Lead by example by modeling self-care behaviors and creating a supportive environment.
Diagnosis rate, rising spending
The percentage of the population under the age of 65 diagnosed with mental health disorders increased between 2013 and 2020, but these rates may be underreported. Paul Fronstin, director of health research at EBRI, said the percentage of people under 65 diagnosed with mental health disorders rose from 14.2% in 2013 to 18.5% in 2020, according to health insurance claims data.
But Fronstin said he thinks these rates were underreported for two reasons: 1) the stigma around discussing mental health and 2) the diagnosis code of the person seeking treatment was not always associated with it. a mental health problem.
Spending on mental health increased between 2013 and 2020, an EBRI study found. Spending on mental health disorders as a share of total health spending increased from 7% in 2013 to 8.2% in 2020. Both inpatient and outpatient mental health care have seen increased spending over this period , Fronstin said, while spending on prescription drugs for mental health fell.
Workers seeking help
One in four Americans enrolled in employer-provided coverage — 41 million people — received mental health support in 2020, according to a study of U.S. health insurance plans. That figure includes 6 million children, said Adam Beck, AHIP vice president, employer health policy and initiatives.
Telehealth appointments for mental health treatment increased 100-fold in 2020, he added.
AHIP’s findings were based on employer-provided insurance claims for workers and their covered dependents.
Of those who received mental health treatment in 2020, 13 million enrollees received individual and group psychotherapy, 22 million received treatment from primary care physicians and 31 million obtained prescription medication.
What will the future bring to mental health and employer-provided coverage? Beck provided a list of AHIP’s goals:
- Increase the number of nationally licensed mental health professionals.
- Increase the participation of mental health providers in health insurance networks.
- Develop the use of telehealth services.
- Addressing the social determinants of health.
- Better integrate mental health into primary care visits and assessments.
Susan Rupe is an editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She previously served as communications director for an association of insurance agents and was an award-winning journalist and editor. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @INNsusan.
© All content copyright 2022 by InsuranceNewsNet.com Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without the express written consent of InsuranceNewsNet.com.