{"id":34367,"date":"2025-05-12T08:09:52","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T12:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=34367"},"modified":"2025-05-12T08:32:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T12:32:30","slug":"rethinking-mental-health-investment-from-access-to-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/rethinking-mental-health-investment-from-access-to-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking Mental Health Investment: From Access to Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than five years ago, I wrote about how virtual care could help fill gaps <\/span>in mental health support<\/span><\/a>. A lot has changed since then; telemedicine has moved from the sidelines to the mainstream. And yet, the reality for employees hasn\u2019t changed: they\u2019re still struggling, and many employer solutions fall short of meeting them where it matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite record levels of investment in wellness and mental health programs, employers are still facing growing claims and rising rates of absenteeism, disability and burnout. That\u2019s why I\u2019m revisiting this topic \u2014 and why this year needs to be the year we rethink defining and delivering mental health care at work.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Investment\/Outcome Paradox<\/b><\/h3>\n

When the pandemic hit, many employers did the right thing: they responded quickly and generously by boosting mental health benefits. But since then, mental health-related claims have continued to climb; GreenShield data notes that mental health claims <\/span>have risen 132%<\/span><\/a> since the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have to look far to realize that throwing more money at healthcare problems rarely drives better outcomes, and the mental health crisis is no exception. Yet, this mismatch between growing investment and rising costs suggests that we\u2019re not facing a funding gap, but a model gap. Many of today\u2019s solutions are checking the \u201caccess\u201d box without delivering meaningful impact. In other words, they provide coverage, but not care. They make help possible, but not always easy to start \u2014 or to stick with.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we want to build more resilient teams and thriving businesses, we need a better approach: one that meets people where they are and supports them over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

A New Path Forward: Digital Therapeutics<\/b><\/h3>\n

Software now powers a large part of the modern world. It should then be no surprise that it can also play an important role in the treatment of chronic diseases, including mental health, and that it can potentially improve the standard of care. Some of the biggest barriers to effective mental health treatment are limited access to a primary care provider who can help guide the first steps of a patient\u2019s journey, cost and patients\u2019 adherence to treatment. Our Proactive Care Report notes that<\/span> 50% of Canadians <\/span><\/a>are delaying care for their physical and mental health concerns<\/span>, and many note that lack of access to providers and long wait times are a serious deterrent to seeking out care.<\/span><\/p>\n

New models of care are emerging that can reshape how we support mental health at scale. One of the most promising? Digital therapeutics \u2014 software-driven, evidence-based interventions that help people manage or treat medical conditions like anxiety, depression and stress on their own terms and at their own pace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike traditional approaches that rely solely on limited provider availability, digital approaches are flexible and can be designed to be:<\/span><\/p>\n