The Telemental Health Revolution
Telemental health has been the single most significant development in mental health access in the past decade. Virtual therapy and psychiatry visits have dramatically expanded access — particularly for employees in rural areas, employees with stigma concerns, and employees with scheduling constraints. Wait times for telemental health appointments are typically 2–5 days, compared to 25+ days for in-person appointments.
Stigma Reduction
Telemental health reduces the stigma of seeking mental health care by allowing employees to receive care from the privacy of their home. Employees who would never walk into a therapist's office are willing to have a video session from their living room. This privacy reduces the stigma barrier and significantly increases the population of employees who seek mental health care.
Telemental Health Design
IQ Insight
The most effective telemental health benefit design has three features: $0 cost-sharing, a robust provider network with short wait times, and proactive promotion. Employers who offer $0 telemental health with a strong provider network and active promotion see utilization rates of 8–12% — compared to 2–4% for employers with higher cost-sharing or poor promotion. The incremental cost of the additional utilization is far less than the medical cost savings from treated mental health conditions.