Mental health support is a topic that many individuals, and employers, are having to take a closer look at.

As part of Yahoo Finance’s Healthcare Week, Yahoo Finance’s Anjalee Khemlani sits down with Corporate Synergies Group SVP John Crable to break down the current challenges in the space and options for workplaces to help employees.

Crable notes a “challenge” for employers who have seen a “greater demand” for resources for support. Crable explains how there are now more options for employers to offer help to employees, whether it's through apps or access to mental healthcare professionals.

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Video Transcript

JOSH LIPTON: As part of Yahoo Finance's week-long health care special, we're taking a look at the progress in mental health support. Roughly 50 million Americans in 2019 and 2020 were experiencing a mental illness according to Mental Health America. But as interest rises in mental health wellness, we're digging into how workplaces are handling the new age of mental health. To break down the latest progress and barriers in the mental health space, Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Khemlani spoke with John Crable, Corporate Synergies Group senior vice president. Take a listen.

JOHN CRABLE: I think some of the social stigma has gone away from, you know, the whole concept of individuals saying that they could use support or help. And I think that there's a greater demand from the employees to their employers to provide, you know, additional resources and avenues for support and help.

ANJALEE KHEMLANI: We've seen definitely the rise of things like apps, wellness apps in particular or telehealth visits through virtual means, and connecting in some cases to in-person appointments. What would you say is the most valuable thing for employees right now that employers could do?

JOHN CRABLE: Well, I think you really outlined it, which is to provide, kind of, a multi-pronged approach for employees to access mental health support and resources. So that could be apps like Calm or Headspace that allow employees to, kind of, self manage, but also it's really giving them access. It's creating avenues to talk to mental health care professionals and providers.

ANJALEE KHEMLANI: When it comes to the expense of this right now, we're talking about this in an era where increasing premiums, increasing employer burden of that continues to be a topic of conversation. I'm sure you're hearing that as well. And so I wonder how adding all these additional services, you know, contributes to that bloat conversation?

JOHN CRABLE: Yeah, you know, that is a good point. And that's a challenge that employers face all of the time. You know, they all generally provide basic health care, and prescription coverage, and maybe some other lines of coverage, but really, kind of, bolstering that with mental health support and other things is very important.

The good news is that with some of the online, the digital platforms, as you mentioned, and virtual care, the cost is more manageable. And also, we're seeing a greater investment from the health care carriers themselves. The big insurance carriers are also expanding their offerings and support recognizing that this is an area that is in high demand right now.