BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Oct. 9, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- American families are struggling to overcome mental
health issues exacerbated by the pandemic as parents need more
support from employers and communities to help them do so,
according to a report from The Cigna Group. Nearly half of parents
surveyed said their teenagers were experiencing mental health
challenges and one third of parents said their teens struggle with
sleep. As a result, more than 25% of parents said their own mental
health was negatively impacted and report feeling overwhelmed by
their child's emotional challenges.
![A new report commissioned by The Cigna Group shows that American families are struggling to overcome mental health issues and want community support. A new report commissioned by The Cigna Group shows that American families are struggling to overcome mental health issues and want community support.](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2240952/Youth_Mental_Health_Crisis_Page3_1_Cigna.jpg)
"While awareness has grown, barriers to getting mental health
care remain for many families – chief among them are knowing where
to turn for support and finding the right provider. As conditions
like depression, anxiety, and addiction become more pervasive, we
need to think differently about how we break down barriers once and
for all," said David M. Cordani,
chairman and CEO, The Cigna Group. "To curb this crisis and
safeguard America's future, we need to work together to equip and
empower communities with the support they need to revitalize social
connections, strengthen resiliency, and improve health and
vitality."
Connecting communities,
confronting health inequities
U.S. Youth Mental Health Crisis Demands a Community
Response is based on Economist Impact research
commissioned by The Cigna Group. It shows parents face multiple
barriers to supporting family mental health needs including:
- Not knowing the type of help needed (50%)
- Difficulty finding a trusted provider (46%)
- Lack of information about community resources (43%)
- Lack of support from schools (43%)
Nearly half of parents also identified cost of care as a
barrier, and children who reside in lower socio-economic households
are less likely than those in higher socio-economic households to
receive treatment from a mental health provider. Many of the
associated social determinants of health, such as safe housing,
reliable transportation, parental educational attainment, and job
status are considered non-modifiable, and thus communities,
employers, and schools are critical for closing gaps in access to
mental health treatment.
To help combat barriers, The Cigna Group Foundation has invested
more than $10.5 million in community
mental health organizations through the Healthier Kids For Our
Future initiative over the last five years.
Activating private sector
employers to advance health and well-being
Employers provide health insurance for 159 million people or 59%
of those under the age of 65 – more people in the U.S. than all
other forms of coverage. They experience the effects of the mental
health crisis every day due to the direct and indirect costs that
impact workforce health and productivity. Employers are
increasingly looking for innovative approaches to support the
health and vitality of employees and their families, optimize
productivity, and mitigate unnecessary costs.
Four in 10 parents reported a lack of business investment in
mental health resources, such as wellness programs and mental
health coaching, indicating they may be unaware of existing
resources or need types of support not currently available. For
example, parents rated community engagement as important as
traditional mental health therapy, and many employers could do more
to facilitate opportunities for employees and families to do
so.
"Employers are experiencing the effects of the mental health
crisis, as employees strive to deliver at work while also managing
family mental health needs," said Cordani. "Given that Gen Z
will make up one third of our country's workforce by 2030, we need
to do more to secure youth mental health. To do that, we need to
view mental health as a collective responsibility between
individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations –
and work together to help people of all ages thrive."
Read Economist Impact's latest research, commissioned by The
Cigna Group: U.S. Youth Mental Health Crisis Demands a Community
Response.
About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) is a global health company committed
to creating a better future built on the vitality of every
individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge
ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The
Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna
Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its subsidiaries. The
Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries
and jurisdictions, and has more than 165 million customer
relationships around the world. Learn more at
thecignagroup.com.
Media Contact
Justine Sessions
media@thecignagroup.com
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SOURCE The Cigna Group