Alarming numbers of American workers are suffering from mental health concerns like increased stress, anxiety, depression and burnout. Making matters worse, there’s also a dire shortage of mental health providers. That’s why WebMD Health Services is proud to launch a new Mental Health Coaching offering designed to meet your workforce’s need for more emotional support. Read on for details about this important new service…
Experts have been sounding the alarm on the need to focus on our mental health for years now.
But it took a pandemic to really bring the importance of mental health to the forefront. And while the acute phase of the pandemic is over, the effects on our collective mental health are still lingering.
Research conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2023 found:
- Adults ages 35 to 44 have experienced the highest increase in mental health diagnoses—from 31% reported in 2019 to 45% in 2023.
- Adults ages 18 to 34 reported the highest rate of mental illnesses at 50%.
When it comes to support for mental health concerns, the APA found:
- Nearly half said they wish they had someone to help them manage their stress.
- 66% said they could have used more emotional support than they received in the last 12 months.
- More than half said they wish they had someone to turn to for advice and/or support.1
But the reality is there are just not enough professionals to meet the growing need for mental health support.
Psychology Today notes that approximately 47% of the U.S. population (158 million people) live in a mental health “desert.”2 The scarcity of providers is particularly bad in rural and lower socioeconomic areas. In many parts of the country, it can take between two and five months to see a therapist.
That’s where WebMD’s Mental Health Coaching services come in.
While our Mental Health Coaching is not a substitute for therapy, it can get people on the path to better mental health while they wait to see a therapist. Coaches can direct people to the best type of therapy for their concern, and help them navigate your company’s mental health resources, like Employee Assistance Programs and our WebMD ONE Daily Habits Plans. They can even help employees explore mental health resources that are offered in their community.
Mental Health Coaches can help with:
- Alcohol and drug abuse or addiction
- Bereavement, grief, or loss
- Coping with chronic conditions
- Depression and anxiety
- Emotional eating
- Marital and relationship conflict
- Stress management, including workplace stress (this could be particularly helpful for managers who are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress)
- Trauma recovery
Our coaches know their stuff.
All of our coaches hold bachelor’s or master’s degrees in psychology, human services, counseling or social work, and maintain expertise and advanced training in stress management strategies, including meditation, relaxation, breathing, yoga and mindfulness. Many have additional certifications or licenses in counseling and addiction treatment.
How to access Mental Health Coaching.
Employees can access mental health support in one of two ways:
- By completing the ONE Assessment (health assessment), which may flag them as high risk in areas that impact emotional health, like alcohol use, anxiety, depression, stress, life satisfaction and/or social connectedness. In this case, the individual will be directly referred to a coach on the Mental Health Team.
- Employees can also self-refer for Mental Health Coaching by giving us a call and indicating that they want to focus on their mental health.
Today’s employees expect employers to provide support for all aspects of well-being, particularly mental health. WebMD Health Services’ Mental Health Coaching can help you address the need for more mental health support in your population. If you’d like more information on our Mental Health Coaching services, contact us at connect@webmd.net.
