The Importance of Coverage for Mental Health Services

More than ever, it is essential for health plans, providers, employers and community partners to engage in serious conversations about how we can better support mental health.

Specifically, I’m mindful that September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the statistics are sobering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34, and the overall suicide rate in our country increased by 33% between 1999 and 2019. Greater efforts to provide support and education surrounding mental health and suicide prevention are critical for addressing this growing concern and saving lives.

Warning signs of suicide.

Suicide does not discriminate and people of all genders, races, ethnicities can be affected, so it is important to be aware of the signs. If someone you know is displaying one or more of the following behaviors, they may be thinking about suicide:

• Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
• Looking for a way to kill oneself
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing their use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings
• Change in eating or sleeping patterns
• Describing feelings of great guilt or shame

If you know someone who is displaying one or more of the above warning signs, take action. Ask the person how they are feeling and acknowledge their emotions as they tell you about their experience. Be supportive and help connect them with a mental health professional.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, receive immediate help by:

• Calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Texting the Crisis Text Line: 741741

The responsibility of health plans.

Health plans share a responsibility with providers, employers and community partners to tackle the challenges of mental health from coverage to care. And while significant investments must be made to transform the model by closing the gaps and addressing the shortages of mental health professionals, the first step is eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness.

We must be willing to speak up about the issues, listen to understand and take action to help.

It begins with meeting people where they are by offering a variety of mental health support tools and access points. From online services to in-person sessions, the greater the variety of tools available, the more likely we can increase each individual’s comfort level and the likelihood that they will engage to seek care in their preferred format.

At Priority Health, we’re proud to offer a variety of mental health resources to our members.

• 24/7 Priority Health Support Line: Members experiencing emotional distress or concerns with substance use can call the Priority Health 24/7 support line, where behavioral health experts will work with callers to help them navigate the behavioral health system which includes mental health and substance use services. Depending on the situation, members may be connected with a licensed master’s level clinician on our Emergency Triage team to further assess the callers needs and assist with care coordination.
• myStrength tool: Self-care and coping skills are critical to your mental health and wellbeing. Priority Health has partnered with a digital health specialist to offer free access to mental wellness resources specifically focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. All members 13 and older can sign up for a free myStrength account that includes interactive activities, coping tools and other resources at bh.mystrength.com/priority-health.
• Care Management: Priority Health offers telephonic care management to members that need additional assistance and support with accessing mental health services and care coordination with providers. This support is provided by licensed master’s level social workers who are skilled in supporting members with a variety of behavioral health needs. This support is offered for free to Priority Health members.
• Behavioral health virtual care: Behavioral Health virtual care is also available, allowing members to receive treatment from the comfort and safety of their own home. We’re proud to partner with Spectrum Health to offer members behavioral health virtual care through the Spectrum Health Now app to treat anxiety, depression, grief, stress and sadness in a more convenient way.

Employee and caregiver support.

At Priority Health, we not only recognize our responsibility for our members’ mental wellness, but our employees as well. In addition to the resources provided to our members, Spectrum Health and Priority Health offer additional tools specifically for our team members, designed to help them address mental health concerns and develop healthy mental health habits.

The grit and mental fortitude of those who work in our industry have certainly been put to the test riding the waves of this pandemic, and we are mindful of the implications on our team members’ mental and emotional wellbeing. We are proud to offer:

• Encompass: This service gives employees 24/7 access to free mental health counseling. Day or night, they can call or log in online to receive immediate support.
• Headspace: Free access to this highly reviewed mindfulness and meditation app. From guided meditations to articles and videos, the app offers a variety of content to help our teams focus on their own mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Critical Incident Stress Management: For abnormally stressful incidents such as the death of a coworker or patient, Spectrum Health offers internal support through the Critical Incident Stress Management team. This group provides a safe space for healing after a traumatic event.

It’s incredibly rewarding to lead an organization that is focused on taking care of its team members, and I believe that the only way to take care of others is to first take care of ourselves. Showing compassion is absolutely essential to creating a healthy culture that people want to be part of.

Mental health is a critical component of overall health and wellbeing. Especially this month as we focus on suicide prevention, please engage in meaningful conversations to raise awareness, spread hope and share information on this important topic. Together, we can make a difference.?