Aetna helps employers lead the charge in workplace mental health

St. Louis – Four in 10 adults reported depressive or anxiety-related symptoms in 2020, increasing from one in 10 adults in 2019. It’s not always easy to find the right support when someone is struggling. Navigating costs, appointment wait times, and selecting a provider (like a counselor, psychiatrist or social worker) can be a complicated process.

Last year, nearly 50,000 Americans died by suicide, at a rate of 5.7 suicide deaths per hour – roughly twice the rate of homicide – the highest number ever recorded in the U.S.

Construction workers are at particularly high risk. The suicide rate for construction workers is the second highest of any industry, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Aetna®, a CVS Health Company, is working with employers and the community at large to facilitate the mental and behavioral health care people need, when they need it, at an affordable cost.

EMPLOYERS HAVE BECOME MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES
The global pandemic helped to heighten awareness of the importance of mental health and well-being. This historically stigmatized topic is now embraced among top workplaces in St. Louis, throughout Missouri, and across the country. A recent survey of large employers revealed nearly all (94 percent) had increased mental health support, benefits and programs for their workforce in the last three years.

Aetna has been a health insurance partner to many of these companies, including those in the St. Louis metropolitan area, which is home to nearly 2.2 million people and boasts a diverse workforce.

“We know that comprehensive, employer-sponsored insurance coverage that supports the unique needs of each workplace is critical to employee retention, productivity and overall satisfaction,” Aetna says. “That’s why we’ve joined forces with business owners, HR partners and health insurance brokers to build on this momentum and innovate resources for employee mental health and well-being.”

LOWER COSTS, BETTER ACCESS, EASIER NAVIGATION
“At Aetna, we recognize the importance of guiding members to affordable health care that is personalized for each person’s mental, physical and social needs. Our approach to mental and behavioral health support is successful because we know there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all care. That’s why the depth and breadth of the behavioral health care resources at Aetna are unmatched.”

Aetna and Meritain Health, an Aetna company, offer:

1. Quick, convenient care
“Our partnerships with more than a dozen telehealth therapy vendors mean your employees can remotely access condition-specific therapy programs, adolescent therapy, and a wide range of other services. And while telehealth is a popular option for its ease and convenience, in-person support may be right for certain people.”

2. A strong, robust and reliable network of providers
“Our provider network has grown at an unprecedented rate in the last several years and is now one of the largest in the nation. Since 2022, we’ve enhanced our provider recruitment efforts and boosted our behavioral health network in Missouri by 35 percent.”

3. Innovative programs that enhance the member experience
“Our mental health services all involve personalized guidance based on each member’s needs and preferences. Aetna offers advanced, integrated care management and high-touch engagement support. We also offer navigation assistance through Mind Companion, a single, digital entry point that lowers barriers to mental treatment by guiding people through care options. And through offerings like Resources For Living®, our EAP and workplace well-being program, we can help your employees take charge of their health.”

Aetna partners with the National Alliance on Mental Illness of St. Louis (NAMI St Louis). “We are looking forward to the upcoming NAMIWalks event on May 11 to help increase mental health awareness in communities throughout the state. And we’ve also taken local action to address social determinants of health and improve health equity—like helping to ensure the community has quality housing. Since 1999, we’ve invested $28.68 million into affordable housing across Missouri.”

For more information on Aetna policies and programs, visit https://www.aetna.com.

If you are having a mental health crisis, please know that you’re not alone. You can call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline (988lifeline.org) 24 hours a day and talk to someone who will help you. Call 988 or 1-800-273-8255.

(Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of companies, including Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). Aetna is part of the CVS Health® family of companies.)