50 Percent of People Have Not Sought Mental Health Assistance Even When required, Mostly Due to Cost: Survey

Each year, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making this data particularly timely.

1,321 people completed the survey, which was conducted March 30-31, 2021 via SurveyMonkey. 

Highlights include:

• 71 percent have access to mental health benefits via their employer (another 15 percent were unsure if they had mental health benefits or not).
• 50 percent of all respondents have not sought mental health assistance in the past even when they knew they needed it.
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  • Among those who had access to mental health benefits from an employer, 38 percent said they have not sought mental health assistance when needed.
  • The top reason why among all respondents was "too expensive" (38 percent), followed by "too difficult" (35 percent) and "not enough time" (28 percent).
  • About one quarter were worried about stigma or confidentiality, and 23 percent did not pursue care because they were unable to find a provider.
• What employees want most from employers in terms of mental health benefits: full cost coverage (31 percent) and quick access to care (24 percent).
• On average, about 1 in 4 employees (24 percent) would prefer digital mental health assistance over in-person assistance. This number was higher (33% percent) among those 30-44 years old, and lower (25% percent) among those 18-29 years old. And the preference for digital services was nearly 70% higher among men (29%) than among women (18%).
• 30 percent of employees would prefer a program that enables them to chat online or via text with providers daily or as needed.

"It's shocking to me to see so many people not pursuing the mental health assistance they need," said Kristian Ranta, CEO and Founder of Meru Health. "I envision that one day getting help for mental health problems would be as easy and stigma-free as it is for any other health problem. To get there, employers need to ensure all employees are aware of their mental health benefits, and that employees know that such programs are completely confidential and that there is no shame in asking for help. Providing digital options offers a low-threshold and flexible option to get care whenever and wherever needed. It also allows for asynchronous care: you can get help and talk to someone when you need it and not have to wait for your appointment."

As the need for mental health assistance ballooned during COVID-19 (US cases of anxiety and depression tripled), so did demand from employers for digital mental health assistance options, says Ranta. "We have seen really impressive fast-tracking with contracts as employers are rushing to support their employees through these tough times," said Ranta. "Our growth in terms of patients treated was 5X in 2020 alone, and has continued to grow as employers realize that these programs not only reduce barriers to care for conditions like anxiety and depression, but are also proven to be as effective or even more effective than traditional in-person therapy or medication."