Using Telehealth Mental Health Services for Employees
Workplaces can both support and hinder good mental health.[1] With great influence over employee well-being, workplaces can make numerous adjustments to ensure they protect and promote it. The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought with it many benefits and risks to health caused by remote working, necessitating new measures to look after employee well-being.[2]
One such measure is telehealth, which provides healthcare services via text, phone, or video call. Telehealth therapy for employees can improve employee well-being, be cost-effective, and be refreshingly accessible and comfortable. However, there are a few considerations to make before implementing it.
If you’re considering telehealth services for your mental health, a mental health professional can talk you through the ins and outs and whether it’s suitable for your or your company’s needs.
This page can also help you better understand telehealth therapy for employees, exploring:
- Why telehealth services are needed and how they work
- The benefits to both employers and employees
- Advice for implementing online mental health services in the workplace
- Where to find telehealth services
Work and Mental Health
People can experience increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions as a result of their job and workplace environment. Risks to mental health at work include things like excessive workloads, inflexible hours, workplace discrimination, and toxic work cultures.[1]Even when work is hybrid or remote, there are still risks, as employees are at greater threat of isolation, depression, and increased alcohol consumption.[2]
Employers can’t control many potential causes of mental health difficulties (such as the breakdown of romantic relationships or the death of a loved one). However, it’s clear that workplaces do have power and influence over the well-being of employees.
For this reason, many employers are implementing change, strengthening their coverage for mental health support benefits. As well as telehealth options, this has included adding or enhancing employee assistance programs (EAPs) and expanding existing health plans to cover mental health.[3]
How Does Workplace Telehealth for Mental Health Work?
Telehealth mental health services can connect employees with licensed therapists via text, video, or phone call. Whether it’s for seeking advice about medication or lifestyle, or regular psychotherapy sessions, these services can be extremely helpful and accessible.
A workplace can connect professionals with online psychiatric care by first choosing a telehealth provider to work with. Through them, employees can have individual accounts from which they can access an app or website that connects them with information and licensed professionals.[4]
Some telehealth products focus on addressing work-related stressors, enhancing cognitive performance, and mindfulness training.[4] Many also offer coaching, counseling, and psychotherapy, and even extend their services to dependents (people who are cared for by the employee).
It’s also good to be aware that telehealth services specifically for mental health may call themselves “telemental health,” “teletherapy,” “telepsychology,” or “telepsychiatry services.”[5]
Later, we’ll discuss the key considerations for implementing a telehealth service. But for now, let’s explore the benefits of telehealth therapy for both workers and employers.
Benefits of Workplace Telehealth Mental Health Services
Workplace telehealth mental health services can have a range of benefits for both employees and employers, so we’ve broken these benefits into separate categories for both below.
Telehealth Mental Health Benefits for Employees
When offered access to a telehealth service for their mental well-being, employees can experience the following benefits:[6] ,[7]
- Remote accessibility: Telehealth services are highly convenient for those who are constrained by their location or travelling habits. Many people spend a great deal of time commuting to work full-time, which leaves little room for attending in-person therapy. Doing so at home is less time-consuming, as users don’t spend excess time travelling to appointments.
- Privacy and comfort: Some people feel discomfort with in-person interactions and might worry about being stigmatized at in-person clinics. Telehealth allows them to be supported in the privacy and comfort of their own homes, eliminating anxieties about the format of therapy.
- Quicker access to support: Since telehealth services aren’t limited by location like in-person clinics, they can take on a larger number of therapists and clients. For employees, this means access to support tends to be much quicker.
- Client choice and control: Telehealth services tend to offer numerous options for support, with clients able to choose between video or telephone conferencing and a wide range of therapists. This elevated sense of choice can make employees feel greater control over their mental healthcare experience.
Telehealth Mental Health Benefits for Employers
When a company invests in a telehealth service, employers and managers can expect to see the following:
- Improved employee morale: Through providing structured support for employee mental health, you can nurture the well-being of those on your team. These sorts of supportive environments can promote a sense of confidence, purpose, and achievement, as well as productivity. [8]
- Cost savings: As telehealth appointments can reduce the need for multiple visits, they save employers money. In fact, investing in telehealth services could save employers hundreds or thousands of dollars per emergency visit. [9]
- Fewer absences: Telehealth services tend to be more flexible in their appointment options. This enables employees to access remote therapy while working full-time, fitting care into their schedules more easily. Instead of taking time out of work to attend sessions, employees can access therapy outside of working hours.
Considerations for Implementing Telehealth in the Workplace
Before small or corporate businesses can implement telehealth mental health programs, there should be a certain amount of planning, as there are considerations to think about. Here’s what you should think about before beginning, so that your strategy is as effective as possible:
Technological Concerns
Your team will be more likely to use the technologies on offer if they are easy to learn how to use and provided in a straightforward way.[5] When choosing between telehealth options, remember that some tools might be inaccessible for some staff.
Furthermore, employees may encounter technological issues when using telehealth services. [6] It’s a good idea to provide training to ensure everyone is digitally competent with the telehealth tool, so that they aren’t limited in accessing support when needed.
And finally, your organization may not be ready to implement telehealth services if you don’t have staff members who can support the technical elements.[5] Having a team member who’s particularly familiar with the tool can support the technology use and help integrate it into your workplace smoothly.[10]
Employee Preferences
Research into telehealth use found that 55% of participants would prefer in-person services, 15% would prefer online support only, and 30% would prefer a mixture of the two.[6] For instance, those with family members at home may prefer in-person options because they afford them greater privacy.
Offering a combination of online and in-person services will give your employees the choice and enable you to support everyone on your team as much as possible.
This may not only be important for catering to everyone’s preferences. While those living in rural communities may appreciate the increased access to services that telehealth provides, internet access may still limit the use of telehealth services.[7] Having in-person options for mental healthcare as well will ensure your provisions are equitable across the board.
Therapy Suitability
Although employees can access a wide range of therapies through virtual mental health care, this access isn’t totally comprehensive. Some people may benefit from specific types of therapy that can’t be provided online.
For example, it’s more challenging for group therapy to be delivered remotely, so this is less likely to be offered by telehealth services.[5] Furthermore, things like exposure therapy and treatment for trauma are likely to be less effective in online formats.[10]
For this reason, it’s important that your mental health service provisions are as comprehensive as possible by including in-person options.
HIPAA Compliance
Employers wanting to implement telehealth should consider the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prioritizes healthcare privacy and data protection.
A HIPAA compliant teletherapy workplace will implement teletherapy with certain policies in place. These pertain to storing health data separately from workplace records, keeping health information confidential, and choosing telehealth services that are HIPAA-compliant. [11]
How to Support Mental Health Across the Board
While investing in a telehealth service is a strong way to support your staff, there are other elements of a mental health strategy to consider. For example:
- Developing a positive work culture around sharing mental health experiences
- Having a formal procedure for responding to mental health crises
- Creating a process for those employees returning to work after mental health treatment
When combined, these approaches can form a robust and supportive workplace environment that can respond quickly and appropriately to mental health concerns. So, although telehealth can be a powerful form of support, it shouldn’t be the only one in place.
Mission Connection: Virtual Counseling and Psychotherapy for Working Adults
Personalization is key to our work here at Mission Connection. We offer a variety of in-person and online therapies to suit everyone’s unique needs and preferences, treating a range of conditions. We also have self-assessment quizzes for professionals to help them understand what symptoms might mean.
Working professionals may feel like they’re spinning multiple plates: their job role, home life, and mental health difficulties. Telehealth services provide much-needed therapeutic support that can fit alongside these responsibilities, overcoming the barriers of time and location.
Since there are some cases where in-person therapy is more ideal, employers should think carefully about their healthcare provisions. Mission Connection can support you by providing comprehensive mental health care options.
Check out our in-person facilities or get in touch to find out how we can help you nurture a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.
