Simplifying Mental Health Care

Simplifying Mental Health Care

The pandemic impacted numerous areas in our lives. From the way we work to how we parent, our previous approach to navigating each day quickly expired. Everything changed. The state of mental health and the urgency required to address this crisis is clear. Yet, the path to accessing care remains complicated. In a recent conversation with my friend Ann-Somers Hogg we discussed this exact observation - while addressing mental health has become a priority, many still don’t know where to even start. So, in this edition of #SimplifyingHealthcare, I'm sharing a few resources that can be starting points to help guide your mental health care journey.

988

First and foremost I NEED to highlight the new nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline prevention hotline, 988. Earlier this month I shared an NPR article announcing the launch of a new three-digit lifeline designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people to a trained mental health professional.  If you or someone you know needs immediate help, do not hesitate to call or text!

Employer Benefits

Chances are if you work for a larger company, there are several resources available to you. These resources will vary from one employer to another so be sure to chat with your HR team. Some of these benefits can include digital solutions, stress management subscriptions, or personal counseling. Resources exist and are often drastically underutilized. Maybe it’s because it feels like a digital maze to find them in your portal, or the language used to describe the benefits doesn’t make sense. It’s important to chat with your HR team (in confidence) to clearly understand what is available to you as an employee and the extent or frequency you can use it (i.e. How many therapy sessions you are eligible for in a year).

Insurance Covered Care

Many insurance companies have dedicated mental health experts in-network to help address the needs of their enrollees. Like employer benefits, it’s important to have a conversation with your insurance company to clearly understand who and what services will be covered by your insurance. These services can range from mental health counseling to more therapeutic treatments like acupuncture. While employer benefits will in most cases cover the full amount of your mental health care, insurance coverage in most cases will only cover a predetermined amount or percentage.

Uninsured Care

The truth is, not all therapists or organizations will work with an insurance company. And some of these that may operate outside of your coverage circle can provide highly rated and specialized care. Again, it’s important to speak with your employer and insurance first to understand free-to-you-care options. However, there are cases where you can work directly with a mental health care provider to find a plan and payment model that best suits your needs.

Student Care

With my son returning to NYU this past weekend, I’d feel this edition would be incomplete if I didn’t touch on the care options available to students. As a parent, we often want to play the role of a therapist for our kids. Honestly, most of us don’t have the education or experience to help in the best way possible (not to mention, no kid wants their parent to be their therapist.) Fortunately, most primary and post-secondary schools will offer free services for enrolled students. Encourage your child to introduce themselves to a school counselor or reach out to their university’s student services department so they can be well informed of their options.

The Internet

Cards I draw for others to express thanks

Not a resource for diagnosis or treatment, but the internet does sometimes offer a wide range of valuable space for people to search and develop a better understanding of what they are experiencing. Series like Dr. Rhonda Medows, MD, FAAFP ’s Kids Talk Covid have been truly enlightening to see and hear how kids and parents alike have been dealing with the stresses of the pandemic. I often use social spaces like LinkedIn as an outlet to share my experiences, perspectives, and interests to create conversations, make connections and relate with each other. Sometimes, it really does feel like a virtual hug, small lightbulb moments, or a dose of comfort that reminds me we are in this together – and we all have the capacity to understand and help each other.

When it comes to mental care, programs, resources, and solutions exist. Since there isn’t a “START HERE” sign, let’s actively try to help each other figure it out. Sharing one person’s experience or tip they just stumbled upon can have a ripple effect. The first step is talking. And remember there is always someone there to listen if you need an ear (my inbox is always open 😉).

Until the next edition 🌸

Ruth

Ann-Somers Hogg

Health care innovator | Speaker | Podcast host | Author | Research leader making work and life better for moms

2y

Thank you for writing this Ruth, and for what you are doing with #SimplifyingHealthcare. You've provided a great resource for those who don't know how or where to start.

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics