Most of society now understands that mental health is an important pillar of wellbeing. It impacts everyone. However, now that we understand mental health impacts us all, our next goal is to transform that understanding into action. That action might best take shape in the form of breaking barriers to care access.

The gap between recognizing a need and receiving support still exists, despite much lip service paid to mental healthcare’s importance. In order for individuals to act on their mental health awareness, care must be available when people need it, at an affordable cost, and without long wait times. Without this type of access, many will continue to navigate stress, loneliness, burnout, and major life transitions on their own.

One way organizations big and small can make a meaningful difference, is by offering (or creating) multiple pathways to support. Not everyone is ready for the same type of help at the same time. Some may seek clinical care, while others benefit from peer connection or self-help resources. Providing access to multiple avenues to support (“meeting people where they are”) can help people feel heard and engage with care, before challenges escalate.

All this said, at Supportiv we have seen a growing commitment across industries to prioritize wellbeing and expand access to equitable support. Large employers, health plans, and academic institutions are seeking out non-traditional solutions and novel ways of approaching the human challenges we all face at one time or another. These novel approaches are bearing promising results, at a national scale.

Awareness without action doesn’t mean a whole lot, so we are inspired by the organizations that live their values and help pave new pathways to care. We’re also proud to take part in that endeavor, by offering a round-the-clock, equitable, and sub-clinical care solution that speaks to those hardest to reach – during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond.