More employees have been using mental health service since the Covid pandemic began, and employers are responding by beefing up their programs, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey. More employees have been using mental health services since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to 46% of firms with at least 5,000 employees and 12% of firms with at least 50 employees.
Forty-three percent of employers surveyed provided or expanded online counseling for emotional or financial distress, relationship issues, or other stressful situations.
Thirty-one percent of employers with 50 or more employees have expanded ways to access mental health or substance abuse services, such as telemedicine. Also, 16% developed new resources, such as an employee assistance program.