Employers have acknowledged the toll anxiety, depression and burnout have taken on their workforce with benefits and expanded access to mental health support. But what happens when those resources just aren’t enough? 

A quarter of Americans struggle with a mental health disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, and one in 20 have a serious mental illness, including eating disorders, severe depression and anxiety disorders, or substance misuse disorders and other addiction issues. Often, treatment for these conditions is difficult to access and afford, making the chance of recovery or proper symptom management an uphill battle. 

Virtual mental health care platform Lyra Health is expanding their care services to address acute mental health needs. Their new initiative, Lyra Complex Care, provides in-depth support and an expanded network of 250 providers so patients can find the right care plan faster. 

Read more: Mental health trends and predictions for 2024, according to Lyra

“The mental health care system can be very broken, especially for those who have really high-acuity needs,” says Dr. Smita Das, VP of psychiatry and Complex Care at Lyra Health. “Many of my patients have turned to the internet to find ways to deal with their struggles, which can lead to going out of network or going to places that aren’t high-quality. I wanted to see the puzzle pieces of a broken mental health system come together for those members most in need.” 

Lyra already offers a variety of programs that address complex mental health issues like substance abuse, as well as DBT therapy to reduce suicidality and self-harm. Lyra Complex Care will bring those resources together as “the glue” for a patient who’s not sure of next steps, Das says. Instead of feeling like their only option is rehab or inpatient treatment, Lyra can guide them to a less disruptive option. 

“Oftentimes, these members will need more than one type of care to help them realize recovery,” she says. “Instead of needing to go somewhere that’s very costly or disruptive to their life, Lyra’s clinical specialists are able to leverage their knowledge of the member’s specific needs and preferences to research and recommend the best treatment options.”

A chronic need

Das says employers should understand that acute mental health needs are often chronic and won’t be cured after a set period of time. Providing support at every stage is a critical component to making sure employees get the help they need, and can support businesses, too. Untreated mental illness costs employers $105 billion annually in lost wages, lost productivity and other associated costs, according to the Center for Prevention and Health Services. 

Read more: 5 ways employers can support women’s mental health

“This has been something I’ve heard from benefits leaders over the last five years — what can we do for this [population]?” Das says. “They’re very costly, not just from a dollars and cents point of view for our employers, but from the level of worry and concern that partners have for these members.” 

Most importantly, showing a commitment to mental health can continue to reduce the stigma around seeking help when needed, Das says. 

“Employers are trailblazing and making mental health part of the conversation at work, but when it comes to higher-acuity needs, we still have more work to do to normalize that,” Das says. “My hope is that the stigma will decrease and there won’t be an extra number that needs to be called in order to get access to services. It’s all there within the Lyra ecosystem.” 

Read more: How Prudential, Walmart, Aflac and PwC support mental health at work

Giving employees more options to take care of their mental health and find care that works for them can lead to better outcomes for everyone, Das says. The end goal is to ensure employees feel safe and supported. 

“It’s not a broken arm that can be fixed and then we move on. Some people will need ongoing care and help,” Das says. “At the end of the day, we want our members and their families to be able to lead as functional and full lives as possible. These diagnoses can be treated and treated well, especially when this type of coordination is part of the picture.”