Mental illnesses cause more days of work loss and work impairment than any other chronic health condition, including arthritis, asthma, back pain, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, according to the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. It’s no wonder more employers are looking to implement strategies to address behavioral health in the workplace. In the Willis Towers Watson Best Practices in Health Care Employer Survey Report, it’s estimated that by 2019, 57 percent of respondents will have a companywide behavioral health strategy in place (up from 21 percent in 2017).
As a leading organization, Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan (MCHCP) considers behavioral health a key area of focus for the health and well-being of its employees. In this episode of The Cerner Podcast, Julie Watson, Chief Population Health Officer with MCHCP, explains how addressing mental illness in the workplace can help employees live happier, healthier lives.
Julie answers the following questions:
- What is the mission of MCHCP and what does the role of Chief Population Health Officer entail?
- Why is addressing behavioral health in the workplace so important?
- Why are more employers starting to place a big focus on behavioral health as part of their workplace health program?
- What is your organization doing to address behavioral health in the workplace? What strategies have you seen other organizations using? How have the organizations' employees received the programs?
- What are some of the challenges and lessons that you have uncovered in your experience in addressing behavioral health?
- What advice would you give other employers looking to implement behavioral health programs at their organizations?
Listen to the full podcast below, or click here to view all episodes of The Cerner Podcast!
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