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Improving Workforce Behavioral Health: Breaking Down Barriers

person inspecting a prescription bottle while on the phone

Many employees in today’s workforce aren’t receiving the behavioral health care they need to thrive. Research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) notes inequitable access to care and the persistent stigma surrounding mental health as two key barriers.

Black, Hispanic, and rural communities are particularly vulnerable to lack of care and negative perceptions. Additionally, 80% of all employees with a mental health condition say shame and stigma cause them to avoid seeking treatment (Source: NAMI). 

Employers can help by creating a “full health” culture that includes employee access to behavioral health care resources. This means working with a health plan partner to help solve for inequity, educating leadership to speak openly, and providing affordable mental health benefits — including virtual visits and on-site care.

Breaking through barriers to improve workforce behavioral health.

When it comes to behavioral health, your workforce may face critical challenges that stand in the way of getting the care they need. Two of those formidable roadblocks are stigma and inequities in behavioral healthcare. Learn how to address these barriers full on to better support the well-being of your workforce.

Understanding barriers to behavioral healthcare.

While the pandemic has inflicted new and worsened existing behavioral health challengeson today’s workforce, it has also opened more conversation around behavioral health in theworkplace. There is growing awareness among employers that each employee experiences healthcare differently—largely based on socioeconomic, demographic and geographic determinants of health. And when it comes to behavioral health specifically, employees’willingness to ask for mental health support if they need it—as well as their ability to access behavioral care—often varies based on social determinants of health. Forward thinking employers also recognize that addressing stigma and tackling inequities represents a valuable opportunity to build inroads toward full-health workplace cultures that are good for their employees and ultimately good for their business.

Only 1 in 3

Black adults who need mental healthcare receive it.1

The extent and causes of health inequity.

Health equity is the absence of unfair and avoidable differences in health among groups of people due to social factors.2 Looking at behavioral health in particular, inequities exist that often prevent oppressed and marginalized populations from receiving the care they need. Inequities, such as limited access to health, educational, social and financial resources, along with provider bias and inequality of care are common barriers to treating mental health in minority communities. In fact, according to NAMI, only one in three Black adults who need mental healthcare receive it.3 We cannot hope to cover the breadth of behavioral healthcare inequities that exist in a single white paper, but highlighting a few critical ones offers a place to start.

Since people of color are more likely to have lower socioeconomic status, factors like a lack of or insufficient insurance, costly copays and limited proximity to providers may prevent them from seeking care in the first place. However, even when Blacks and Hispanics do seek treatment, regardless of their socioeconomic status, they are often misdiagnosed or receive inadequate care by providers as a result of discrimination and biases. In addition, a lack of cultural understanding by providers and language barriers may also contribute to misdiagnoses and other challenges. All of this, as well as the limited availability of behavioral health providers of color, can result in distrust of the healthcare system and a reluctance to engage in care.4

Barriers to care in rural communities.

Eighty percent of all rural counties do not have a single psychiatrist.5 Employees who live in “behavioral care deserts”—or who are uncomfortable walking into a therapist’s office—can benefit from virtual care options. However, spotty high-speed internet access across rural areas makes digital care a possibility for some—but not others. 

Research also shows that behavioral health conditions may be under-diagnosed among racial and ethnic minorities. For example, Millennials from majority Black and Hispanic communities have lower diagnosis rates of major depression, 31 percent and 55 percent lower respectively when compared to Millennials in majority white communities. These lower diagnoses are likely due to not only difficulties accessing quality care, but also stigma.6 

The persistence of mental health stigma. 

Studies have shown that negative views of individuals with mental health conditions are particularly strong in Black and Hispanic communities, so talking about these challenges can be difficult for people of color due to fears of being shamed or perceived differently.7 This can even prevent them from seeking the help they need within the workplace. But, the impact of stigma’s mighty grip goes beyond just employees  of color, it affects the broader workforce as well.

Despite signs of progress, many employees still feel uncomfortable speaking up about burnout, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. In fact, 8 of 10 employees with a mental health condition say shame and stigma cause them not to seek treatment.8 This can lead to conditions worsening over time, making them even more difficult (and costly) to treat.

Addressing stigma and health inequities for your workforce. 

There are steps you can take to help your employees feel more comfortable talking about their mental health and seeking support, as well as to improve the accessibility of behavioral health resources for all.

Reach out to your health plan partner.

  • Tackling behavioral healthcare inequities requires a collaborative approach, so ask your health plan partner what initiatives they are pursuing to confront inequities in behavioral healthcare. Are they working with providers to increase cultural awareness, address unconscious bias and improve outcomes? What relevant partnerships are they forging with key organizations in the communities where your employees live and work?
  • In addition, ask what your health plan partner is doing to improve insights to health equity. Are they tracking disparities and progress? For example, see how Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are confronting racial health disparities through a National Health Equity Strategy.

Make behavioral healthcare business as usual.

  • Educate business leaders and frontline managers on behavioral health, and barriers like care inequities and stigma, as well as the importance of speaking openly about mental health with their workforce.
  • Talk about mental health during employee onboarding—especially in benefits conversations. Also, develop ongoing opportunities for your workforce to discuss mental health and send regular reminders about all available resources.

Make care less cost-prohibitive.

  • For employees with healthcare coverage, consider limiting or eliminating office visit copays and offering no-cost screenings to make behavioral care more affordable, and drive awareness of outside local resources—many of which are available at little or no cost.
  • Consider offering paid time off for behavioral healthcare.

Bring behavioral healthcare within reach. 

  • Make virtual care a priority. Examine your employees’ virtual care usage and consider making changes brought on by the pandemic permanent. For many employees, virtual care can provide an easily accessible gateway to behavioral care and help overcome stigma. Be sure to promote available virtual care options to employees, highlighting their benefits and effectiveness.
  • Also, consider providing access to health screenings, counseling and care on site.

For more behavioral health resources visit

1, 3, 4, 7  “Identity and Cultural Dimensions: Black/African American,” National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2021; “Identity and Cultural Dimensions: Hispanic/Latinx,” National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2021.

2  “Health Equity,” Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, accessed June 1, 2021.

5  New American Economy, “New Study Shows 60 Percent of U.S. Counties Without a Single Psychiatrist,” Oct. 23, 2017.

6  Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Health of America Report®, Millennial Health: Trends in Behavioral Health Conditions, October 2020.

8  National Alliance on Mental Illness, “NAMI Launches Stigmafree Company Partnership,” July 7, 2016.

© 2021 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.All Rights Reserved. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of independentBlue Cross and Blue Shield companies.

Originally Posted: on BCBS Smarter Better Health Care and is used with permission.