News Summary
Tennessee is grappling with a significant mental health crisis, with nearly 20% of adults reporting frequent mental distress. Factors such as heavy workloads, pandemic-related isolation, and social media use contribute to this issue. The Surest health plan by UnitedHealthcare aims to provide affordable mental health resources, addressing the needs of employees by simplifying costs and improving access to care. Despite new solutions, Tennessee still faces a shortage of mental health providers and rising distress rates, underscoring the urgent need for effective support and resources.
Tennessee is facing a pressing mental health crisis, with nearly 20% of adults in the state reporting frequent mental distress in 2024. This statistic reflects a growing trend of mental health challenges across the country, attributed to factors including heavy workloads, pandemic-related isolation, and the pervasive influence of social media among younger populations.
The American Psychological Association has highlighted the correlation between demanding work schedules and overall mental health, happiness, and well-being. In the United States, about 40 million adults are grappling with anxiety disorders, marking it as the leading mental health issue affecting American workers. As the workforce demands increase, an overwhelming 92% of employees express the importance of their employers prioritizing emotional and psychological well-being.
Affordable mental health care services are deemed crucial for fostering a positive work culture and enhancing the mental well-being of employees. New health plans are emerging to meet these needs effectively, with modernized packages aiding employees in accessing essential mental health resources. A significant development in this regard is the Surest health plan from UnitedHealthcare, which emphasizes an uncomplicated digital shopping experience for mental health care.
Innovative Health Plan Solutions
The Surest health plan distinguishes itself by eliminating deductibles and coinsurance, thereby simplifying payment structures into variable copays depending on the provider and facility. This innovative approach has led to considerable savings; members utilizing Surest realized a 54% reduction in out-of-pocket costs compared to conventional health plans. Employers have also benefited, witnessing an 11% decrease in total costs per member per month with this adaptable plan.
Women specifically have seen substantial savings under the Surest plan, paying 88% less for anxiety-related visits and 82% less for depression-related appointments compared to conventional options. Furthermore, there has been a notable increase in utilization of medical care among Surest members, who exhibited 20% more physician visits, a 9% rise in preventive physical exams, and significant increases in preventive screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies.
Resources and Support Systems
In addition to the Surest plan, eligible members can access Calm Health, a digital platform offering personalized mental health resources, including therapy referrals and daily self-care content. Despite the advances in modern health plans, Tennessee’s mental health landscape is still challenging. The state ranks among those with the highest rates of mental distress, trailing only Nevada and Kentucky, while also reporting significant access issues with mental health services.
Tennessee currently has one mental health provider for every 560 residents, a stark contrast to the national average of one per 340. This deficiency in mental health services is compounded by increasing demand as the pandemic has intensified mental health challenges through factors like isolation and anxiety.
In response to this growing need, the Family Care Center has opened a new outpatient mental health clinic in Knoxville, aimed at addressing the shortage of accessible in-person services. The state has several existing state-funded mental health programs directed at children and young adults, helping to mitigate the effects of the mental health crisis.
Local Support Resources
Tennesseans seeking mental health support have various resources available, including school counselors and organizations such as the Mental Health Cooperative, Centerstone, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Tennessee. The National Suicide and Crisis Hotline can also be reached by calling or texting 988, offering immediate assistance for those in crisis.
With Tennessee ranking as the 10th highest state for mental illness prevalence and ninth for access to care issues, the need for effective mental health resources is more urgent than ever. The increasing costs of mental health care, which have risen by 14% nationally from 2017 to 2021, further underscore the significance of expanding and improving mental health services statewide.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Tennessean: Tennessee Youth Mental Health Resources
- Tennessee Lookout: Giving Guns to Certain Mental Health Patients Could Become a Crime in Tennessee
- NewsChannel 5: State of Tennessee Working to Make Mental Health Services More Accessible
- Knox News: Tennessee Among the Worst Mental Health Care Access
- Nashville Banner: Gun Control Bill in Tennessee and Mental Health
- Wikipedia: Mental Health
- Google Search: Mental Health Awareness
- Google Scholar: Mental Health Services Tennessee
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mental Health
- Google News: Mental Health Tennessee
