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Dr. Donald Tavakoli shares how employers can support their employees who have children with mental health needs by offering rich behavioral health benefits and a supportive workplace culture.
By Dr. Donald Tavakoli, National Medical Director of Behavioral Health at UnitedHealthcare
The youth mental health crisis1 is having a profound impact on working parents and caregivers.
In fact, 75% of working parents said they missed work at least once a month due to their child's emotional health or development.2
This absenteeism may be coupled with a decrease in productivity, as another survey showed that as much as 50% of parents found their thoughts preoccupied with their children’s well-being even at the workplace.2
And it’s no wonder. Children and teens are facing high levels of mental health concerns:
- More than 1 in 5 children experience a mental health condition each year2
- 20% of high school students and 41% of college students self-report depression concerns3
- 35% of high school students and 55% of college students self-report anxiety concerns3
- 15% of all suicides are by youth and young adults (ages 10–24) — an increase of 52.2% since 20001
- 50% of mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by age 244
As a father and a licensed and board-certified psychiatrist, I personally and professionally attest to the importance of supporting parents and caregivers so they can support their children and teens.
To aid employees who are parents of children with mental health needs, employers can implement several strategies. These include offering behavioral health benefits that cover mental health screenings during annual preventive care visits to facilitate early detection of issues. Integrating medical and behavioral health benefits may also ensure quicker access to care, which can be crucial for effective management of these conditions.
Moreover, expanding the network of available behavioral health providers and coaches, including those who offer virtual appointments, can make it easier for parents to find the help their children may need without undue delay. At UnitedHealthcare, we’re making strides to help employees find the care they need along a continuum — for example, bringing to life a coaching program for families, which may be helpful in addressing a variety of concerns, like social media overuse and feelings of anxiety in a variety of circumstances.
Providing tools and resources, such as conversation starters for discussing mental health with children or apps like Calm Health, are another way we’re seeking to help parents and teens understand the care they need. Available to teens 16 years old and older, Calm Health has content modules that can help equip users on topics such as “Taking charge of your teen anxiety,” “Menstrual cycle self-care” and “College depression.” It also has specialized content for parents of teens, including “Parenting teens with mental health conditions.”
Employers can also help destigmatize mental health issues by openly discussing them and reinforcing the availability of supportive resources. Encouraging the use of flexible policies or leave benefits allows parents to manage their children’s health needs without fear of job repercussions. Promoting programs like the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offer "in-the-moment support" may also help parents in navigating these challenges.
By offering behavioral health benefits to support employees and their families and fostering a workplace culture that acknowledges and actively champions mental health, employers can aid in the well-being of their employees' families and may also enhance overall productivity and employee satisfaction.
