Top 6 Strategies to Address Barriers to Mental Health Benefits

In today’s fast-paced and demanding work environment, prioritizing mental health is more essential than ever. Despite growing recognition, mental health issues still carry a stigma, creating obstacles for those seeking appropriate support and coverage.

Access to mental health benefits, including therapy, medication and self-care practices, is crucial for individuals facing mental health challenges. However, taking the initial step towards recovery or seeking help can be daunting. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), there is an average delay of 11 years between the onset of mental health symptoms and receiving treatment.

Several factors contribute to this delay, including cost, accessibility, and societal stigma, which can prevent workers from obtaining the mental health care they need. Employers play a critical role in breaking down these barriers by promoting awareness of available treatment options and supporting employees in their journey toward mental wellness.

Importance of mental health benefits

Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand why mental health benefits are essential in the workplace:

• Improved employee wellbeing – Through benefits that can help with stress management, anxiety and other health issues, employees will experience improved overall wellbeing and happiness.
• Increased productivity – When an employee has access to mental health support, they can combat mental blocks which can help boost productivity.  
• Reduced absenteeism – Benefits can help reduce absenteeism caused by mental health struggles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that depression alone causes an estimated 200 million lost workdays each year.
• Enhanced employee engagement – Employees who feel supported in their mental health are more engaged and committed to their jobs and the company.
• Talent attraction and retention – Offering robust mental health benefits can make an organization more attractive to potential employees and help retain current talent.

While many employers may prioritize their businesses’ bottom line, it is crucial not to overlook mental health support, as it can have significant positive effects. A 2023 study by the mindfulness app Calm found that for every $1 invested in employees’ mental health, employers can save $2-$4 on other expenses, such as healthcare costs. Employee mental health is more important than ever before, and employers are in a position to offer resources and support their employees.

Strategies to remove benefits barriers

Even though employers are recognizing the importance of mental health benefits, there are still barriers that prevent employees from accessing benefits. To overcome these hurdles, employers should consider the following strategies for increasing access to care:

#1 Review benefit offerings

Effectively helping employee mental health involves integrating mental health support into your healthcare offerings. Review your benefits each year to stay on track with new options and what works best for your plans.

The most popular mental health benefit offerings are:

• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible work arrangements
• Paid caregiving leave
• Mental health days

#2 Educate employees about available benefits

Education on what mental health benefits are available is the first step. Employers should also educate employees on how other benefits can enhance those offerings.

For example, funds from health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) can be used to pay for therapy and other mental health related benefits. Additional benefits can help make treatment more attainable and offset out-of-pocket expenses for employees.

#3 Reduce the stigma

One of the biggest fears employees may face when discussing their mental health with an employer is the fear of being punished or fired. If mental health is starting to impact their work, such as days or weeks missed and low performance scores, this fear can be heightened.

Employers can build trust by showing employees that they truly care for their mental wellbeing. You can do this by openly discussing mental health in the workplace, encouraging self-care and allowing flexible scheduling for employees who need mental health treatment.

Additionally, employers can educate employees on improving their mental health with in-office training on self-care, stress management and other mental health related issues.

#4 Promote work-life balance

Employees who feel they have a good balance between their work and personal lives are more likely to be healthy, happy and productive. Organizations can foster a healthy work-life balance by providing employees the time and flexibility for a flourishing personal life.

You can do this by requiring minimum vacation time and encouraging individuals to unplug from their job when not in the office or outside of working hours. Additionally, flexible work schedules can allow employees sufficient time to seek and obtain mental health services.

#5 Support caregiver responsibilities

The COVID-19 pandemic put caregiving in the spotlight, illuminating the mental health challenges they face. While caregivers often focus on others, they must also care for themselves. As an employer, you can support them through paid caregiving leave and offering flexible working arrangements to balance personal and professional responsibilities.

#6 Support employee wellness

Exercise, healthy eating and good sleep habits are crucial for mental health and resilience.

Employers can support employee wellness by creating healthy behaviors through wellness programs and offering employee incentives, such as healthy lunches and reimbursement for gym memberships. Employers should also consider offering employee assistance benefits (e.g., free counseling or therapy) to help employees struggling with mental health.

Mental health challenges are becoming more common at work. Luckily, employers can make a big difference by supporting access to key mental health benefits by providing an open and trusting work environment with comprehensive resources and support. Learn how you can make this happen by connecting with a trusted advisor at The Miller Group.