
An estimated 51 million adults in the United States are living with a mental illness, according to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), and the onset of COVID‑19 amplified the need for mental health support: The CVS Health 2021 Health Care Insights Report found that 37 percent of respondents are experiencing anxiety and 30 percent are dealing with depression.
The impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on mental health
The pandemic disrupted people’s health and lifestyle in many ways.
![]() Impacted
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![]() Impacted
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![]() Depression30% |
![]() Feelings of
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![]() Impacted Anxiety37% |
![]() Impacted Stress35% |
![]() Depression30% |
![]() Feelings of isolation and loneliness37% |
Unfortunately, only 57 percent of employees who report moderate depression and 40 percent of those who report severe depression receive treatment to control their symptoms.
The effects of poor mental health can affect all aspects of an individual’s life — including their work — translating to lower productivity, more absenteeism and higher health care costs.
Stress-related health care and missed work cost employers $300 billion per year. Other downstream impacts of mental health issues include:
- 12 percent increase in ER use
JAMA: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2707424, October 2018 - 3 times more likely to use an out-of-network provider
NCBI; “Out-of-Network Provider Use More Likely in Mental Health than General Health Care Among Privately Insured”; 2016 - Increased incidence of such diseases as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease
Scott KM, Lim C, Al-Hamzawi A, et al. Association of Mental Disorders with Subsequent Chronic Physical Conditions: Work Mental Health Surveys from 17 Countries. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(2):150–158. - 2 to 3 times higher health care costs for co-occurring illnesses
Melek SP, Norris DT, Paulus J, Matthews K, Weaver A, Davenport S. Potential Economic Impact of Integrated Medical-Behavioral Healthcare: Updated Projections for 2017. Milliman Research Report. Seattle, WA: Milliman, Inc.; 2018.
Even after taking other health risks, like smoking and obesity, into account, employees at high risk of depression had the highest health care costs during the three years after an initial health risk assessment.
The crucial role employers can play
Employer-sponsored health coverage provides valuable access to resources for employees and their family members seeking help with these concerns. According to the Business Group on Health, 87 percent of employers say they accelerated efforts to improve mental health access and services as a direct result of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Fewer than 20 percent of employees who report burnout are using company benefits for mental health. |
Fewer than 20 percent of employees who report burnout are using company benefits for mental health. |
However, a recent poll found that two-thirds (67 percent) of employees who are considering leaving their jobs agree that their employer has not followed through on early pandemic promises to focus on employee mental health.
We’re here to helpIt’s hard for people to seek mental health treatment for multiple reasons including social stigma, lack of awareness, access and cost. Working together, we can help to make mental health a reality for all.
Starting at a familiar place can be a great first step. Solutions available through CVS Health are designed to remove barriers and increase access to mental health care. There is a continuum of opportunities to engage plan members in need. |
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Awareness begins with openness. Today, CVS Health is launching "Stop. Ask. Listen.", a new initiative that underscores the importance of checking in with ourselves and with others we care about. There are opportunities every day to help yourself and others with mental health — the key is asking the right questions to start a conversation. Listening well makes people feel safe and can help identify early symptoms that are often missed. The goal is to make asking “How are you?” more than small talk. We’re encouraging everyone to commit to having a real conversation and to encourage others to do so also by reinforcing the #mentalhealthcheckin and #stopactlisten actions. Resources on how to start the conversation can be found at cvshealth.com/mentalwellness. To ensure a strong national ecosystem for mental health, our partnerships support numerous organizations that work in areas ranging from providing resources for health care workers, to social isolation. These organizations include AmeriCares, the Crisis Text Line, Meals on Wheels and others. The company promotes Stamp Out Stigma, an initiative led by the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness that seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and substance use disorders. |
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Screening can provide the opportunity to identify members in need. Project Health provides free biometric screenings in 25 CVS Pharmacy markets as well as throughout the communities we serve, with four mobile units in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through Project Health, we also provide free mental health education and resources at clinics and community health centers. More than 1,700 free health events have been held in 2021, including more than 500 mobile health unit events. Depression screening is available in our more than 1,100 MinuteClinic locations inside CVS Pharmacy and Target stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia. Physical exams and lab work also may be ordered to identify other potential causes of depression. If clinically appropriate, providers can prescribe medication. Prevention is possible through enhanced screening and safety planning. Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have a potentially treatable mental health condition. We are committed to reducing suicide attempts. With the right intervention and support, resources and management of suicidal thoughts, suicide can be prevented. |
Want to learn how we can help you make mental health services available to employees? | Contact us |
Want to learn how we can help you make mental health services available to employees? |
Contact us |
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Treatment needs can run the gamut from occasional counseling and support to drug therapy, and our solutions span the range of engagement options, from telephonic and digital to hybrid and in-person. These varied options can help reduce concerns about stigma; patient privacy is assured.
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These solutions lead to cost savings by providing lower-cost, in-network care options and helping to avoid emergency room visits. Guiding employees to the appropriate level of care can help to keep them engaged with other health care priorities and maintain medication adherence. With convenient access, employees are more likely to seek care earlier and receive support for chronic conditions, helping to manage payor costs.
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