Mental Health Initiative Guidebook: Employer Mental Health Strategies—An Essential Investment

The mental health crisis in the United States is undeniable, and its impact on employers is significant, costing billions of dollars each year. To help employers, our partners at the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions developed the Mental Health Initiative Guidebook: Employer Mental Health Strategies—An Essential Investment.

A primary concern for many employers is the insufficient access to affordable, quality behavioral health care for their employees. To resolve these concerns, many employers are developing strategies that invest in mental health of their employers. The National Alliance’s guidebook outlines five essential steps that employers can take to develop or refine their mental health strategy.

Five-Steps to Building an Effective Mental Health Strategy

1. Identify Top Access Challenges

The guidebook provides a visual overview of behavioral health access challenges across the U.S. through color-coded maps that highlight:

• Areas with mental health professional shortages
• The percentage of adults experiencing frequent mental distress by state
• The average number of “Poor Mental Health” days experienced per month
• The percentage of the population living in counties fully designated as mental health professional shortage areas

These insights give employers a clear understanding of the landscape of behavioral health care challenges in the U.S.

2. Choose Optimal Vendors and Health Plans

Selecting the right health plans and vendors for specific employee populations requires careful consideration. The National Alliance, in partnership with the HR Policy Association and Path Forward, created the Behavioral Health Vendor Engagement Template to help employers and other plan sponsors address issues of mental health access and quality.

3. Develop Key Success Metrics

Once health plans and vendors are selected, it’s crucial to establish relevant goals, metrics, milestones, and accountability frameworks. The guidebook provides a step-by-step process for preparing meetings with vendor partners and ensuring that clear expectations are set.

4. Analyze Relevant Data Regularly

Accountability is essential for success when it comes to employers’ mental health strategies. By holding health plans and vendors to agreed-upon goals and standards, employers can enhance the effectiveness of their behavioral health initiatives, directly impacting employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall organizational success. The guidebook offers practical advice on tracking progress and measuring success.

5. Improve Workplace Benefits and Procedures

Creating a supportive workplace culture is essential to fostering resilience and well-being. Employers must continuously improve mental health benefits and procedures by promoting wellness, maintaining open communication with employees, and implementing organization-wide changes that encourage a culture of support. The guidebook provides suggestions for making these improvements.

Employers are Key Players in the Mental Health Crisis

Employers have a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of addressing the mental health crisis in the U.S. By taking action and implementing thoughtful, comprehensive strategies, they can cultivate a healthier and more resilient workforce. The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions has provided a step-by-step guide to help employers bring this vision to life.

Read and download the guidebook below.