Virtual Behavioral Health: Optimizing the Mental and Emotional Wellbeing of Your Workforce

In the fast-paced landscape of modern workplaces, ensuring the mental and emotional wellbeing of employees is crucial. With the increased effectiveness of hybrid or remote working methods, virtual behavioral health has emerged as a groundbreaking solution to support the mental and emotional wellness of today’s workforce. Through innovative digital platforms and accessible resources, virtual behavioral health optimizes employee wellbeing and fosters a healthier, more resilient organizational culture.

According to the World Health Organization, the benefits are vast. For every $1 put into scaling up care options for common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, there is a return of $5 in improved health and productivity. Conversely, untreated mental health concerns result in costs of approximately $105 billion for organizations nationwide.

With numerous virtual counseling options available, discovering the right mental health solution for your organization is not only important, but can significantly impact employee wellbeing and morale.

Read on to learn more about how virtual behavioral health can benefit your organization.

What is virtual behavioral health?

Virtual behavioral health, also known as teletherapy or online counseling, connects people to licensed behavioral health counselors from the comfort of home or on-the-go. Through a secure healthcare portal individuals can receive help for a variety of needs, including two of the most common diagnoses: anxiety and depression.

Someone seeking virtual behavioral health support can expect:

• 30- to 60-minute appointments
• Counseling delivered by a licensed behavioral health counselor or clinical psychologist
• A short- or long-term counseling relationship that can vary in length based on need and treatment goals

What does virtual behavioral health treat?

Virtual behavioral health can treat stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, sleep issues, work/life balance, family conflict or parenting concerns, adjustment challenges, and learning difficulties. Essentially, virtual counselors can deliver the same type of care as an onsite behavioral health provider. Other capabilities include: 

• Evidence-based, solution-focused psychotherapy 
• Psychosocial assessments and treatment plans 
• Screenings for suicide, depression, anxiety, and others as needed

Along with this, behavioral health professionals can assess and treat individuals facing crisis and facilitate specialist referrals when needed. Whether care is preventive, or intervention focused, virtual providers facilitate high-value care that supports people in their everyday lives.

Is virtual counseling available to both remote and on campus workers?

Yes, regardless of your employees’ physical location – whether in the office or a remote environment – providing both digital and in-person access points will ensure they can get mental health support when and where it’s most convenient for them. Having the option for virtual counseling also offers many benefits for those who may not be comfortable visiting a counselor’s office or are new to counseling all together. However they choose to connect, offering both virtual and in-person support removes barriers to care, keeps employees engaged in their health journey, and leads to better outcomes.

How do virtual primary care and virtual behavioral health work together?

Integrating virtual primary care with virtual behavioral health promotes a holistic, whole-person approach to care where providers work together as a care team. Primary care providers serve as the quarterbacks of the healthcare system and can identify members in need of behavioral health support. At Premise, virtual providers are part of a centralized care team that uses the same healthcare platform to can seamlessly refer their patients to other providers on the care team or community resources when needed.

Behavioral health solutions paired with primary care creates opportunity for impact whether that’s intervening with people in crisis or filling care gaps. With primary care providers trained to recognize behavioral health concerns and make referrals to licensed counselors, members get the best care possible.

Behavioral health and primary care in action

Suppose someone is struggling with anxiety due to financial insecurity. During their annual physical their primary care provider asks how they’re feeling, and the individual reveals they’re anxious most of the time but can’t afford therapy. The provider connects them to their organization’s virtual behavioral health provider for a virtual therapy session. In the meantime, they also recommend a free online platform like Find Help with Premise that connects people to social services in their community for things like food stamps, financial aid, and housing assistance.

How does an emotionally healthy workforce breed productivity and collaboration?

According to a recent survey by the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), over 90% of businesses agreed that performance, quality of work, and productivity improved when employee wellness became a major focus of their organization. Meanwhile, only 1 in 4 US employees strongly agree that their organization cares about their overall wellbeing, while less than half are aware of any mental health services provided by their employer. Providing the option of virtual behavioral health services shows employees that their mental health is valued and gives them the tools to become emotionally healthy while in the workplace, which ultimately pays dividends to employers in productivity and performance.

High-quality behavioral health support at Premise Health

At Premise Health, we partner with our clients to remove barriers that often prevent people from seeking treatment for mental illness – access issues, high cost, stigma, and lack of support. From dedicated behavioral health support at our local wellness centers to centralized licensed behavioral health counselors via our Digital Wellness Center – we offer integrated virtual and in-person solutions that meet people where they are to help you create an emotionally healthier workforce. To learn more, click here.