Nearly every American knows of someone living with a mental health condition, whether a friend, a family member or their own experience. One in five American adults has experienced a mental illness in the last year, and half of all Americans will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. But nearly 60 percent of those currently living with these conditions go untreated.

While many of us are familiar with the emotional toll of mental health conditions, especially when they go untreated, the financial toll is also staggering — for both individuals and those they rely on for health care.

About half of all Americans still get their health insurance through their employer, and companies are waking up to the costs of mental health conditions — both treated and untreated. Depression alone is responsible for $44 billion annually in lost productivity. According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, mental health treatment costs are $100 billion annually, accounting for 6.4 percent of the $1.6 trillion spent annually on health care in the United States.

Mental illness causes more days of work loss and work impairment than many other chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and arthritis. And people affected by mental health conditions rack up more health care costs. For example, a mental health condition like anxiety or depression can result in an individual not managing a chronic condition like diabetes as diligently, leading to more complications and higher treatment costs. Mental health accounted for an estimated $201 billion in direct costs in 2013, and the cost of untreated mental illness can be even more costly. Studies estimate that in addition to direct treatment costs, annual indirect costs of mental illness total $193.2 billion in lost earnings and $24 billion in disability benefits.

The challenge for employers is daunting, and to overcome it, we have to begin by examining the reasons people with mental health conditions go untreated. Three main factors contribute to this problem: cost, stigma and lack of access. Due to a nationwide shortage of providers, getting treatment is often difficult. In 55 percent of the nation’s counties, there are no practicing mental health workers. The average wait time to see a psychiatrist is 25 days, and it’s even longer in rural locations.

Fortunately, in recent years some of the best minds in technology have come together with the best minds in mental healthcare to address all three factors and develop solutions that are both outcome- and cost-effective.

Telemedicine is uniquely suited to address the major challenges in the field. It can make getting care anonymous and convenient, so patients can receive treatment at home or in the setting most comfortable for them. In addition, telemedicine has the tremendous potential to reduce costs. Getting people the right care at the right time prevents unnecessary emergency room visits and more expensive care.

Finally, telemedicine has the ability to deliver high quality mental health care to patients. In some cases, patients can visit doctors by video, rather than just audio.

One of the reasons I have dedicated my career to telehealth is because I strongly believe that technology can transform our healthcare system. Nowhere is that more evident — and urgent — than in mental healthcare. For patients with mental health conditions, telemedicine can make getting treatment easier, and for employers who are paying for health care, telemedicine can drive down costs and drive up health outcomes. It’s a win-win.

Instant Insights /

Untreated mental health conditions: the staggering costs

More From HR Executive

Related Stories

Recommended For You