An overwhelming 90% of Americans believe the country is experiencing a mental health crisis, and the issue is increasingly spilling into the workplace. A report by Mental Health America found that 85% of workers reported job stress affected their mental health. Mental health conditions are more common among women, who experience issues like depression and anxiety at significantly higher rates than men.
Impact on productivity and health care expenses
Struggling with mental health can lead to diminished quality of life and decreased motivation at work.Research shows depression and anxiety lead to the loss of about 12 billion workdays globally each year, which may contribute to lost productivity and higher health care costs for employers. A study of people with employer-sponsored health coverage found that 27% of the top 10% of health care spenders had behavioral health needs, accounting for 57% of total health care costs.
Fortunately, efforts to improve behavioral health have proven highly effective, yielding a fourfold increase in health and productivity for every dollar spent on treating common mental health conditions.Those efforts can go a long way in supporting mental well-being in the workplace for all employees but especially for women, given they are more likely than their male colleagues to navigate career shifts, move to part-time roles, or exit the job market due to unsupportive work climates, household responsibilities, and evolving flexible job arrangements.
Here are five strategies to promote the behavioral well-being of women in the workplace.
Develop a comprehensive benefits approach for continuous care
Employers can establish a comprehensive benefits strategy that helps employees manage their mental health proactively. The goal is to make every interaction within the health care system a chance to promote mental health, treating it like routine physical checkups.
By providing various resources such as self-care apps, caregiver support, and emotional support services, companies can help employees better manage stress, avoid burnout, and reduce anxiety.
That's one of the main reasons UnitedHealthcare recently made the Calm Health app available to millions of eligible members at no added cost.
Enhance access to mental health services through virtual care
With an anticipated shortage of about 245,000 behavioral health professionals by 2025, the need for accessible mental health services is more pressing than ever.Virtual care options can help bridge this gap, offering essential services more conveniently and often at reduced costs.
This approach has been widely accepted, especially by caregivers — who are predominantly women.To help people access care, UnitedHealthcare expanded its behavioral health services to include virtual coaching at no extra cost to millions of eligible members, helping to support people managing stress and mild mental health challenges.
Address stigma and support high-risk groups
The lingering mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been especially severe for women, adolescents, and people of color. To combat stigma and promote inclusivity, companies can collaborate with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to create safe environments where employees, including women and those from diverse backgrounds, can share their experiences.
Provide guided support for employees and their families
Nearly half of all employees prefer immediate help over scheduled therapy sessions. Although many Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide instant emotional support at no cost, employees are often unaware of these confidential benefits. EAPs generally cover financial, legal, or behavioral health support for both personal and work-related issues. To increase use, companies can employ EAP advocates, primary care physicians, and benefits advisers who are trained to recognize distress and guide employees to appropriate, evidence-based interventions.
Employers can also use key moments in time such as employee onboarding and open enrollment, as well as significant life events like maternity leave to inform their teams about available mental health resources.
Broaden support for women's health beyond maternity care
As expectations for women's health benefits evolve, it's crucial to acknowledge that women's health needs extend well beyond reproductive needs. Women experience significant health changes throughout their lives, including a higher risk of chronic conditions, behavioral health issues, and mental health challenges associated with pregnancy and menopause.
By providing a comprehensive mix of benefits, resources, and support, employers can help enhance the overall well-being of their female employees.
For more information about behavioral health resources, visit UHC.com.
This article was created by UnitedHealthcare with Insider Studios.