woman in wheelchair sitting at table with little girl Beyond generous parental leave and paid time off policies, employers can offer benefits like behavioral health benefits programs to support their children's mental health. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The prevalence of mental health issues across individuals of all ages has been on the rise for the last decade, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation for all but is particularly worrisome for children and teens.

New data from Castlight Health show that pediatric behavioral health care spend is forecasted to hit $190 per member per year (PMPY) in 2022, as compared to $177 in 2021 and $144 in 2020. For teens, the projected 2022 behavioral health care spend is forecasted to reach $220 PMPY, compared to $195 in 2021 and $165 in 2020.

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