Large retailers, psychologists and grocery worker unions expect services for anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns to be in high demand during and after the pandemic. Walgreens and Walmart are among giant retailers that have encouraged their employees to tap their companies’ respective benefits, including tele-therapy and digital offerings on stress relief and peer support.
Some states, including New York and New Jersey, have urged their residents to seek out mental health services from thousands of mental health professionals who have volunteered to provide help via a phone hotline.
Vaile Wright, director of clinical research and quality for the American Psychological Association, is banking on the pandemic pushing employers to widen accessibility to therapy via phone or video. Such an approach is “just as effective as face to face” services and also helps with tough-to-reach populations, including those in rural areas, those who want to remain anonymous and parents who may have challenges finding child care.
“Employers have a lot of power,” Wright says. “They’re negotiating huge, huge packages with these insurers and that’s something they need to advocate for.”