September marks the beginning of fall, bringing a shift from the lively days of summer to a more structured school year, the holiday rush, and the onset of colder weather. Such changes can impact people in various ways, particularly their mental health. It is crucial for our communities and healthcare providers to continue raising awareness, challenging public perceptions, and sharing essential information with those affected by mental and behavioral health conditions. Fortunately, there has been a significant emphasis on leveraging digital health to treat behavioral health conditions, enabling quicker access to care and resources for those in need.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that in 2021, around 57.8 million U.S. adults aged 18 or older were diagnosed with a mental illness, accounting for 22.8% of the adult population. Similarly, nearly 20% of children and adolescents aged 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. These statistics highlight the growing importance of mental health as a key aspect of overall well-being. Digital health solutions, such as teletherapy platforms and AI-powered apps, have advanced to provide timely access to care, reduce healthcare costs, and improve productivity for both patients and care teams. Moreover, these solutions offer a strong return on investment for employers, healthcare providers, and patients.
When it comes to employee mental health and wellness, the conversation around ROI in healthcare costs has broadened to include overall functional wellbeing. Recent studies suggest that companies should embrace this shift by focusing on the mind-body connection, which can help attract, motivate, and retain top talent. However, this is not an easy task. The largest employers in the U.S. lose nearly $200 billion annually in productivity due to untreated mental illness, while spending an additional $200 billion on treating anxiety and depression in the workplace. A promising solution to these challenges is the adoption of high-impact, scalable technologies that can reduce the rate of untreated mental health issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a wide range of healthcare issues across our communities, particularly shedding light on mental illness. Statistics reveal that at least 1 in 5 individuals has a diagnosable mental health condition, making mental health disorders the most expensive health concern, with over $201 billion in healthcare spending since 2016. Despite these startling figures, digital health solutions for mental illness have shown remarkable success in reducing healthcare costs and enhancing patient outcomes. One leading digital mental health company reports a 91% reduction in care delivery costs when using digital mental health tools compared to traditional face-to-face therapy. Additionally, around 90% of patients who engaged in internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) experienced an average 15.7% decrease in medical utilization and a reduction of 2.52 days in hospital stays. Other key benefits of implementing digital health solutions for treatment of mental illness include:
- Enhanced treatment outcomes: Evidence-based digital health interventions can lead to improved treatment results and overall mental wellbeing for users.
- Reduced stigma: Online platforms can help lessen the stigma of seeking mental health support, enabling individuals to access help privately from their homes.
- Scalability: Digital health solutions can rapidly expand, allowing mental health resources to reach a wider audience quickly.
- Variety of approaches: Digital health offers diverse options, including mobile apps, virtual reality, and online therapy, tailored to different needs and preferences.
- Cost-effectiveness: Digital health services provide economic value through direct cost savings, early intervention, broader reach, and continuous support between clinical visits, delivering a positive return on investment.
In an era where mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent, the strategic investment in digital mental health solutions not only demonstrates a commitment to employee and patient well-being, but also drives measurable economic benefits. It is encouraging to see corporations and healthcare organizations adopting an “empathy-powered” approach to ROI for their employees’ and patients’ mental health. ROI is no longer just about financial returns; it now encompasses the overall well-being of each person. This shift is something to celebrate and will positively impact our communities for generations to come.
