Imagine a workforce with laser-sharp focus, increased productivity, and the mental clarity to tackle challenges. That’s the power of well-rested employees. A good night’s sleep enhances performance, while sleep deprivation leaves employees struggling to function and hinders their ability to contribute effectively. Employee sleep is a critical business issue. Insomnia alone costs businesses thousands of dollars per employee in healthcare and lost productivity. But the problem extends far beyond diagnosed cases. Many additional workers struggle with sleep deprivation, with over a third of Amer ..read more

Over 52% of US adolescents report experiencing depression, meaning many of your younger employees or employees’ dependents could be impacted. Depression symptoms are increasing in prevalence rapidly, with rates more than doubling since the pandemic. Left unaddressed, adolescent depression can lead to the development of other costly diseases — known as comorbid conditions (conditions that occur at the same time) — that can have negative impacts on adolescents as they move into adulthood. Offering support for depression early is necessary Employers must prioritize addressing adolescent depress ..read more

In an era where mental health is at the forefront of conversations around employee well-being, the role of HR and benefits leaders in delivering effective resources that meet the needs of their workforce has never been more crucial.  There are many options for mental health solutions, from digital treatments to therapy services. Both of these are incredibly effective alone, but what benefits those seeking care most is a combination of resources that complement one another and cover a full spectrum of needs — which is what Big Health can help you achieve. One care model that stands out t ..read more

Everyone has a bad night of sleep once in a while. But did you know that over a third of US adults say they don’t get enough sleep most nights? Poor sleep is associated with decreased physical and mental health, but it also raises the risk of on-the-job accidents and can even lead to low job satisfaction. Fatigue, which can be a result of poor sleep, is estimated to cost businesses more than $136 billion annually in lost productivity. Here are some of the ways poor sleep may be affecting your employees and how you can help. 1. People are more susceptible to the common cold and other viruses ..read more

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization’s 2023 campaign reminds us that mental health is a universal human right, including the right to accessible, acceptable, and good-quality care. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for many struggling with access challenges. Let’s look at the barriers to quality care that many face in the US specifically and the steps you can take within your organization to address them today.   Acknowledging barriers to care When it comes to mental health treatment, medication has long been the default care method, despite ..read more

Imagine you have a time machine. Set the dial to take you back 50,000 years. Welcome! You’re in a prehistoric time. As you begin a leisurely stroll, you hear rustling in the trees — it’s a grizzly bear. Suddenly, your body and mind react. Your heartbeat quickens, your breath becomes shallow, and you become laser-focused on survival. This is what anxiety feels like, and anxiety did its job. You reacted appropriately and made it safely back to the time machine. As with most human tendencies, anxiety was influenced by natural selection, meaning that it got stronger because it helped keep people ..read more

Over 45,000. That’s how many lives are claimed each year from suicide, which is among the leading causes of death across multiple age groups in the US.  At Big Health, we don’t take mental health lightly. Left untreated, common mental health conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and depression can lead to suicide. We know how devastating mental health conditions like these can be, both to personal life and organizations — and our mission is to help people overcome them before they worsen. We’re here to support you and your organization in fighting to prevent further loss and suffering in y ..read more

This week, the New York Times ran a story on the well-established clinical evidence showing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is a proven alternative for people hesitant to try insomnia medication — noting studies find that CBT-I is as effective as sleep medications in the short term — and more effective over the long term. Behavioral sleep psychologist and CBT-I expert Dr. Shelby Harris recommended our flagship treatment for insomnia, Sleepio, as a reputable alternative to improve sleep. For many insomnia patients who struggle with the negative impacts and downstream mental ..read more

There’s an app for nearly everything these days — even depression. The average teen spends well over seven hours per day in front of screens. So it doesn’t come as a surprise that, in parallel, the prevalence of mental health conditions like depression among youth is rising at an alarming rate. Most of the time, smartphone use isn’t recommended for improving mental health. But that isn’t always the case — sometimes, phone use can actually improve mental health.  Given the barriers to other forms of treatment and the fact that screens are here to stay, we’re meeting teens where they alre ..read more

Depression is a mental illness that negatively impacts how people think, feel, and act. It’s the most common mental health condition people face today, behind anxiety disorders. And in our youth population especially, we’re seeing alarming trends in the increasing prevalence and poor management of the condition.  Millions of adolescents are struggling with depression in the US, fueling the fire of the rapidly worsening youth mental health crisis, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated. Since 2020, rates of depression and anxiety in adolescents have more than doubled. And if these t ..read more