Kids are facing a mental health crisis. What can employers do to help?
When left untreated, mental health issues can have long-term repercussions on many areas of a child’s life,
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.
Related: Gen Z reporting higher levels of behavioral health challenges
Throughout the pandemic, much of the media’s focus on mental health has centered on the effects of shelter-in-place policies, job losses, isolation from friends and family, and grief from COVID-related deaths. However, there has been relatively less attention on the mental wellbeing of children and teens, who have faced multiple school closures, isolation from teachers and friends, and dramatic changes to after-school activities.
Often, teachers and other school staff are the first to identify possible mental and behavioral health issues with children. School closures and virtual learning made it challenging for teachers to recognize early signs of concerning patterns. As a result, children and teens were delayed in getting the help they need. Given the importance of early interventions in pediatric and teen mental health, it is not surprising that the costs associated with the care of these populations has risen dramatically.
When left untreated, mental health issues can have long-term repercussions on many areas of a child’s life, including how they socialize, their self-esteem and their overall development. These problems threaten to carry on into adulthood, which is why early intervention is key.
How pediatric behavioral health problems affect the whole family
When a child or teen has a behavioral health problem, the issue can create added stress for parents. Parents or caregivers are suddenly faced with having to figure out how to best help the child cope while seeking out high-quality care and advocating for them.
This toll on the parent or caregiver can impact how they function in the workplace. Employers need to be aware of the growing mental health crisis among children and teens, as it can directly impact employers’ medical spend and the job performance of working parents. A recent survey found that 53% of working parents report having to miss work at least once a month to help with their child’s mental health.
More needs to be done to help employees who are balancing parenting and work. Families often need the help of a trusted primary care provider or behavioral health program that understands the situation they are in and can help them get their child the care they need.
The employer role: Building a holistic benefits plan
Employers play a major role in their employees’ access to health care both for themselves and their families. Beyond generous parental leave and paid time off policies (which employers should be providing at the most basic level), employers can offer benefits like behavioral health benefits programs, specifically, options that provide support for kids and teens and cover an array of issues (e.g., ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma). The latter part would be impactful because it’s not uncommon for kids and teens to struggle with more than one behavioral health issue.
For example, 60% of kids with ADHD have at least one other condition. This means parents often need to seek out a health care provider specific to ADHD, while also working with a different provider for other conditions the child might be managing, like depression or anxiety. Employers who offer access and coverage for multidisciplinary primary care teams, can help parents and caregivers streamline care for their child while working from the same clinical record to provide a better patient experience.
Other ways of providing support include sharing educational resources on how to recognize early symptoms of common behavioral health issue—like ADHD, anxiety, or depression—and providing intervention support for the whole family. Parents whose kids suffer from depression are often likely to suffer from depression themselves. Providing family-centered care can help ensure that parents and children are being treated with programs that work for both groups.
Overall, employers can play a key role in addressing the rising rates of mental and behavioral health issues in kids and teens. Building more well-rounded benefits strategies and helping employees navigate care options not only for themselves, but for their families, can lead to a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.
Kevin Wang, M.D. is the chief medical officer of Vera Whole Health. Vera Whole Health recently combined with Castlight Health to pioneer and scale value-based care in the commercial market.
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