Increasing access to mental health treatment for children and youth

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 expanding IBX’s network of behavioral health providers and improving access to children and youth members.

Youth Mental Health Affects Us All

Unfortunately, health conditions such as anxiety and depression are on the rise among children, teenagers and adults. And the World Happiness Report 2024 shows happiness among young people has dropped in the US

One in six children has a detectable mental health condition.(*1) In addition:

• About 60 percent of youth with major depression do not receive mental health treatment. (*2)

• Non-white youth have a 35 percent lower rate of depression than white youth. (*3)

• More than half of young adults aged 18 – 21 reported symptoms of anxiety or depression by 2023. (* 4)

The rise in behavioral health problems among young people does not just affect children. Parents and guardians are also involved and, as a result, so are their employers. Almost half of the workforce has a child under the age of 18. And 53 percent of working parents miss work at least once a month to care for their child’s mental health. (*5)

For the well-being of youth and our community, IBX has strengthened its commitment to youth mental health by focusing on helping families access quality online behavioral health care and improving accessibility and accessibility.

Enhanced Member Referral Services

We know that early intervention and collaborative care are critical to the well-being of children and young people, so we make it easy for them to get the care they need quickly.

When members need guidance or care related to their child’s health, they can rely on our Behavioral Health team, which can:

• Assess and understand the child’s needs

• Provide information about treatment options and online resources

• Connect them with the Behavioral Health Case Manager for ongoing support

• Connect them with an online behavioral health provider to help them get faster access to the care they need

• Provide temporary support in times of crisis

Members can schedule appointments directly with a network provider, or our Behavioral Health team can schedule an appointment directly with an IBX health network provider for them. We can help members get an appointment quickly – usually within a week. We work with a number of health care providers who provide rapid access, culturally responsive, and quality care for mental health issues.

Developing the IBX Behavioral Health Network

We’ve expanded IBX’s behavioral health network by nearly 50 percent by 2022 to ensure better access to personalized and virtual care options. The strong relationships we have built with these behavioral health providers ensure that our members receive prompt care with proven, evidence-based practices for children, youth, adults and families. Here are some of them.

A small otter

Little Otter uses a family-first approach, which recognizes that when one part of the family struggles, it can affect everyone. They provide mental health care for children aged 0 – 14 and their families, including treatment and psychiatric disorders. Little Otter’s unique approach includes a complete platform that combines everyday health tools with an award-winning pediatric therapy tool. Their website also offers many resources for families.

Blackbird Health

Blackbird Health provides screening and treatment for children ages 2 – 26 struggling with social, developmental and school-related problems. They provide real and personal care. Services include medication management and speech therapy. Blackbird specializes in the treatment of anxiety, stress, depression, behavioral problems, autism diagnosis, bipolar disorder, and developmental differences (eg speech/language, hearing/motor) .

Jump by hand Good health

Handspring Health uses a hands-on, evidence-based care model to treat common conditions affecting children ages 8 – 24, including depression, family problems, anger management and child behavior problems. They have highly trained providers on staff who specialize in family psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and other evidence-based methods. Handspring Health works closely with community partners, including pediatricians and schools, to ensure coordinated care.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch provides hands-on care for children ages 1 – 26, including speech and play therapy. Hopscotch’s therapy model includes a website that supports therapy outside of existing therapy through games, activities, and cognitive exercises. They also provide parent training to caregivers and family therapy.

Joon

Joon is a virtual care model designed to solve common problems faced by teenagers and young adults, aged 13 – 26. Their medical team deals with anxiety, stress, depression and other problems of mental health. Joon has licensed therapists who can provide personalized plans. They also provide skill-building tools for patients and support for parents, including optional check-ins.

IBX members do not see

We’ve made great strides in making behavioral health services more accessible to our members, but we’re not done yet. We will continue to focus on youth members and their families and find ways to improve the benefits and resources we provide. Most importantly, we want to educate our members about these services so they can use them when they need them.

This content was published in IBX Insights.

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(*1) Daniel G. Whitney, PhD, and Mark D. Peterson, PhD, “US National and State-Level Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders and Differences in Mental Health Utilization in Children,” JAMA

(*2) State of Mental Health in America, mhanational.org.

(*3) BCBSA Health of America Youth Mental Health Report, 2023.

(*4) Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use, KFF.org, March 2023.

(*5) Nationwide Children’s Hospital, “The Great Controversy: The Impact of Children’s Mental Health on the Workplace,” National Foundation, Feb. 22, 2022.

Little Otter, Blackbird Health, Handspring Health, Hopscotch, and Joon are private companies.