Learn How Behavioral Health Impacts Physical Health during our Free Webinar
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| 2 min read
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults in America experience a mental illness, with nearly one in 25 (or 10 million) adults dealing with a serious mental condition, like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. If gone untreated, behavioral health issues can translate to higher medical costs, a lower quality of life, more out-of-pocket costs and lost productivity in the workplace. Because of this, it is essential for businesses to understand how these conditions not only impact their employees’ well-being, but the cost of coverage they provide. Learn more about the connection between behavioral and physical health on Thursday, April 26, at noon, when we will host the third installment of our Master Class series, “Workplace Strategies to Understand and Address Behavioral Health.” Visit our Master Class site to learn more and register. Led by board-certified psychiatrist Dr. William Beecroft, MD, this free, interactive webinar will equip viewers with the resources needed to understand behavioral health and its connection to physical health. It will explain how Blue Cross is connecting mental health with physical care, and provide tools to help businesses advocate for employees living with these issues. This course is certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute for continuing education credit and has been approved for 1 HR recertification credit hour through HR Certification Institute®. Nearly 6 percent of all inpatient hospital stays between 2005 and 2014 were related to behavioral health issues, such as depression, anxiety and stress, and mental health disorders. Patients suffering from behavioral health issues combined with chronic diseases, like diabetes, often incur higher health care costs. In fact, these patients pay an average of $560 more than those managing a chronic disease alone. Education about the connection between physical and behavioral health, and resources available for businesses and their teams, including the value of integrated medical/behavioral health benefits and early intervention with Employee Assistance Programs, can help avoid higher health care costs while ensuring employees have the care they need. Visit these MI Blues Perspectives blogs for more information on behavioral health topics:
