Why Member-Centered Behavioral Health Matters

Leaning on a trusted partner like Anthem can help employers efficiently and effectively meet their employees’ behavioral health needs. Anthem health plans have an integrated behavioral health ecosystem to ensure employees have access to whole person care that addresses both mental and physical health. 

This approach encompasses an entire spectrum of needs, from everyday emotional wellness to complex, chronic, and acute behavioral health conditions to support the 1 in 5 adults in the United States who experience a mental illness every year. At its core is a simple principle: to meet employees where they are and guide them seamlessly to the right level of care.

An Integrated Approach To Behavioral Health

After a medical diagnosis, whether it’s cancer, heart disease, pregnancy complications, or chronic pain, emotional and behavioral health impacts often follow. Health plan models like Anthem’s bridge the gap between a medical diagnosis and behavioral health needs, with integrated care navigation and coordination connecting employees to the right services.

This integration helps to ensure that behavioral health support is proactive rather than reactive, embedded within medical case management and condition-specific programs. When the programs work together, it can lead to improved outcomes and better employee experiences. In fact, a recently completed study showed a 10% reduction in inpatient admissions and ER visits for mental health in 2025 when behavioral health is integrated.

Comprehensive Support When Employees Need It

The behavioral health ecosystem is structured to support employees from lower-risk emotional well-being needs to higher-risk and acute behavioral health conditions.

For early-stage support, employees can access the following:

• Virtual behavioral therapy sessions
• Digital cognitive behavioral therapy
• Self-service tools and learning resources
• Chat support
• Virtual healthcare options

If needs escalate, employees have access to expanded care options, including:

• Virtual or in-person therapy and psychiatry
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Inpatient treatment or hospitalization

Condition-specific programs provide targeted support for complex needs, such as:

• Substance use disorder 
• Eating disorder 
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Suicide prevention
• Children and adolescent case management 

This structure allows employees to receive personalized care tailored to their clinical needs and preferences, providing more consistent support and a smoother behavioral healthcare experience.

How Products, Providers, And Partners Help Employees

Only about 50% of adults with a mental illness receive treatment. This makes access to care critical. In a behavioral health ecosystem like Anthem’s, products, providers, and partners work together: 

• Products are programs and tools offered to members, from virtual behavioral health apps to condition-specific support.
• Providers are licensed clinicians and therapists who deliver virtual or in-person care nationwide, including over 60 virtual-only groups.
• Partners are organizations and alliances that offer expertise, technology, or services, ensuring timely access for members.

By combining virtual-first options with in-person care and national partnerships, Anthem reduces barriers to entry and shortens time to care, which are two of the most significant challenges in behavioral health today.

Care Navigation That Personalizes The Behavioral Health Experience

Whether it starts with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a medical diagnosis, or searching for therapy, the employee experience should be coordinated. Coordinated care enables employees to move from initial screening and digital tools to higher levels of care as needed, without fragmentation or repeated intake, thereby eliminating an extra burden.

Anthem’s care navigation, for example, connects employees to tailored programs, guiding them more efficiently through personalized treatment options, and minimizes confusion or care delays — so they get the right care at the right time. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year. Prioritizing integrated, member-centered behavioral health breaks down barriers to care and supports each employee’s unique needs so they can get the care they need. This collective effort results in healthier, more resilient, and more productive workplaces and communities.