2019 Workforce Attitudes Toward Behavioral Health

Minding the Gap: What Workers Want Out of Their Behavioral Health Benefits—And What’s Getting in the Way

Over the last decade, the U.S. has seen dramatic shifts in attitudes toward mental health. The rise of social media created forums for individuals to share their stories and advocate to end mental health stigma. Public figures, from pop stars to business executives, have spoken out about their own struggles with mental health. Policy, such as mental health parity, has made it possible for more people to receive behavioral healthcare coverage. According to a report from Willis Towers Watson, 88 percent of employers are now prioritizing behavioral health programs.

As a society, we’ve made incredible strides in our attitude and treatment of mental health over the last decade. The number of people who seek treatment has risen from single-digits over the last few decades to over 50 percent in 2014. In many social circles, it’s no longer taboo to talk about depression or anxiety or other common forms of mental illness. Yet every day, we’re reminded that we still have a long way to go given that 70 percent of people in need still aren’t receiving care according to the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.

At Ginger, we believe everyone deserves access to high-quality behavioral health support. Our mission is to provide stigma-free access to high-quality coaches, clinicians, and content. But offering a market-leading product is only one part of that process. We also need to better understand why people want and need behavioral health support.

Over the last two years, our coaches and clinicians have helped thousands of employees at innovative companies such as Sephora, Buzzfeed, and Pinterest. And throughout that time, the feedback from our employer clients has been consistent:

• Behavioral health needs in the workplace are increasing
• People are talking more openly about their behavioral health needs
• People are looking to their employer for solutions

With such radical shifts in sentiment, it’s critical that we measure the changing attitudes, motivations, and beliefs that drive the behaviors of U.S. workers when it comes to their mental health so that we can best support them

In our inaugural 2019 Workforce Attitudes Toward Behavioral Health Report, we’ve highlighted some of the key findings that surprised us from our research with 1,200 U.S. workers. Some of these discoveries excite us, while others give us cause for concern. All of this information adds to a better understanding of the problems that stand in the way of a society free from mental health stigma, a world where everyone is able to talk about their behavioral health challenges and access services that can increase their wellbeing.

Sincerely,
Russell Glass, CEO at Ginger