The mental health of young people has never been more important. At
Independence Blue Cross (IBX), we are strengthening our commitment to youth
mental health by growing the IBX behavioral health provider network and
improving access for children and teen members.
Youth Mental Health Affects Us All
Unfortunately, behavioral health conditions like anxiety and depression have
been
on the rise
among children, adolescents, and young adults. And the
World Happiness Report 2024
shows happiness among young people
has declined
in the U.S.
One of every six children has a diagnosable mental health condition.(*1) In addition:
• Nearly 60 percent of youth with major depression do not receive any mental
health treatment. (*2)
• Non-white youths
have a 35 percent lower diagnosis rate of major depression versus white
youths. (*3)• More than half of young adults ages 18 – 21 reported symptoms of anxiety or
depression in 2023. (*4)
The rise in behavioral health concerns for young people doesn’t just impact
the kids. Parents and caregivers are also affected, and, as a result, so are
their employers. Almost half of employees have a child younger than 18. And
53 percent of working parents have missed work at least once per month to
tend to their child’s mental health. (*5)
For the well-being of our young people and communities, IBX has strengthened
its commitment to youth mental health with a focus on helping families find
quality in-network behavioral health care and improving availability and
access.
Enhanced Care Navigation Services for Members
We know that early intervention and integrated care are important for the
well-being of children and teens, so we are making it easier for them to get
the care they need quickly.
When members need guidance or care related to their child’s behavioral
health, they can count on our Behavioral Health team, who can:
• Assess and understand the child’s needs
• Provide information about in-network treatment options and resources
• Put them in touch with a Behavioral Health Case Manager for ongoing support
• Connect them to an appropriate in-network behavioral health provider to
facilitate fast access to the care they need• Give in-the-moment support during tough times
Members can schedule appointments directly with an in-network provider, or
our Behavioral Health team can directly schedule appointments with an IBX
behavioral health network provider for them. We can help members get an
appointment quickly — usually within a week. We work with several behavioral
health providers that offer fast access, are culturally responsive, and
provide high-quality care for general mental health issues.
Enriching the IBX Behavioral Health Network
We have expanded the IBX behavioral health network by nearly 50 percent
since 2022 to ensure improved access for both in-person and virtual care
options. The strong relationships we’ve built with these behavioral health
providers ensures our members have fast access to care with proven
evidence-based approaches for children, adolescents, young adults, and
families. Here are some of them.
Little Otter
Little Otter
uses a family-first approach, which recognizes that when one part of a
family unit struggles, it can impact everyone. They offer virtual mental
health care for children ages 0 – 14 and their families, including therapy
and psychiatry. Little Otter’s customized approach includes a comprehensive
platform that combines everyday wellness tools with an award-winning child
therapy app. Their website also offers myriad
resources
for families.
Blackbird Health
Blackbird Health
provides diagnostic evaluations and treatment for kids ages 2 – 26 who are
struggling with social, developmental, and school-related challenges. They
offer both virtual and in-person care. Services include medication
management and talk therapy. Blackbird specializes in treating anxiety,
depression, attention deficit disorder, behavioral concerns, autism
evaluations, bipolar disorder, and developmental differences (e.g.,
speech/language, sensory/motor).
Handspring Health
Handspring Health
uses a virtual, evidence-based care model to treat common conditions
affecting kids ages 8 – 24, including depression, family issues, anger
management, and child behavioral disorders. They have highly trained
providers on staff who specialize in family psychotherapy, cognitive
behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and other evidence-based
approaches. Handspring Health works closely with community partners,
including pediatricians and schools, to ensure coordinated care.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch offers
virtual care for kids ages 1 – 26, including talk and play therapy.
Hopscotch’s treatment model includes an online portal that supports therapy
outside of live treatment through games, activities, and mindfulness
exercises. They also provide parental training to caregivers and family
therapy.
Joon
Joon is a
virtual care model designed to address common issues experienced by teens
and young adults, ages 13 – 26. Their clinical team treats anxiety,
depression, stress, and other mental health challenges. Joon has dedicated
licensed therapists who can provide personalized treatment plans. They also
offer skill-building resources for patients and support for parents,
including optional check-ins.
IBX Members Are Not Alone
We have made great progress in making behavioral health services easier for
our members to access, but we are not done. We’ll continue focusing on young
members and their families and finding ways to enhance the benefits and
resources we offer. Most importantly, we want to educate our members about
these services so they use them when they need to.
This content was originally published on IBX Insights.
(*1) Daniel G. Whitney, PhD, and Mark D. Peterson, PhD, “US National
and State-Level Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders and Disparities of
Mental Health Care Use in Children,” JAMA
(*2) State of Mental Health in America,
mhanational.org.
(*3) BCBSA Health of America Youth Mental Health Report, 2023.
(*4) The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance
Use, KFF.org, March 2023.
(*5) Nationwide Children’s Hospital, “The Great Collide: The Impact
of Children’s Mental Health on the Workplace,” Nationwide Foundation, Feb.
22, 2022.
Little Otter, Blackbird Health, Handspring Health, Hopscotch, and Joon are
independent companies.
