Benefits teams have the opportunity to improve employee health, positively impact their organizations' bottom line and also help change the current reality of behavioral health care. (Image: Shutterstock)

With the importance of behavioral health in the workplace discussed more openly than ever before, employers are increasingly recognizing that investing in employees' behavioral health isn't just a social responsibility—it's critical for long-term business success. Employees need long-term solutions for their own personal benefit and only truly flourish when they understand that their employer cares about their well-being. This understanding has helped accelerate the overall industry progress being made to eliminate some of the major roadblocks to effective behavioral health treatment, like legacy stigma and access to care.

Companies are rushing to double down on the amount of money spent on benefits to help workers take care of their mental health given that the momentum around creating mentally healthy and supportive workplaces shows no signs of slowing down. There's no doubt that prioritizing spend on mental health services for employees indirectly contributes to an organization's bottom line significantly, including cost savings linked to fewer absences and higher levels of productivity and retention.

Related: Employee physical, mental health and employer support drive productivity