Two Prominent Seattle Employers Become Newest Partners to Offer 98point6 Integrated Behavioral Health Care to Employees
Mental Health Awareness Month may have ended, but consumer demand for mental and behavioral health services is reaching a fever pitch as the world continues to emerge from the pandemic.
A recent report found that 46% of American workers have experienced some sort of mental health issue since the pandemic took hold in the U.S. in March 2020, up from 39% in 2019.
From quarantine isolation, remote work monotony, additional care-taking stressors and enormous grief after so much loss – the side effects of this crisis have and will continue to take a toll on the U.S. workforce. In fact, mental and behavioral health disorders have been among the top 10 diagnosed conditions for 98point6 since its primary care service launched commercially in 2018.
To prevent future burnout and enable employees to achieve a productive life and career, employers must face the issue head on. To help them do this, 98point6 launched its integrated behavioral health offering earlier this year, adding licensed therapists to the platform, to offer a single-stop virtual care solution that ensures every employee is fully supported in their mental health treatment journey.
Two of Seattle’s most recognized employers, Boeing and the Seattle Mariners, are now offering the 98point6 primary care and behavioral health service to their employees. Acknowledging and addressing mental well-being can be challenging, but delaying care can have serious consequences like negative health outcomes and higher costs of future care. Employers like Boeing and the Seattle Mariners offering behavioral health services are helping to reduce stigma, normalize behavioral health mindsets and encourage individuals to seek help sooner—while things are still manageable and before they can become very costly.
“Taking the first step toward mental well-being can be the hardest, but delaying care can lead to negative health outcomes and higher costs down the road,” said Sara Smucker Barnwell, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Director, Behavioral Health at 98point6. “By integrating behavioral health with 24/7 access to primary care physicians, we’re removing the barriers to receiving mental health treatment, enabling earlier intervention that guides patients to the right level of treatment by the right provider.”
98point6 welcomes conversations with additional employers interested in tailoring a behavioral health program for their employees.