The holiday season is officially here, bringing joy, peace and light for some, but an increase in stress and anxiety in many others. Studies show over 60 percent of people living with a mental illness felt their condition worsen around the holidays, yet less than half sought treatment to manage their condition.
Those living with mental health issues often struggle with asking for support; this particularly impacts members of the military community. Sixty percent of military personnel struggle with seeking help, citing stigma as one of their biggest barriers. Compounding the issue: military families have difficulty navigating benefits and discovering all the services available to them, particularly when it comes to understanding what’s covered by their health plans.
Telemynd, a mental health service provider dedicated to extending access to care throughout the military population with a national network of licensed therapists and psychiatrists, wants to change that.
“So many of our military families are in need of mental health support, but the added anxiety of not knowing what options exist, and ultimately, how to access or pay for them, exacerbates an already difficult situation,” said Patrick Herguth, CEO of Telemynd. “Telemynd seeks to alleviate that burden by providing access to a large virtual practice of quality clinicians that increase care options covered by TRICARE insurance.”
It is currently open season for military families, a time where millions are choosing the TRICARE plan that best fits their needs – with significant differences in mental health costs between plans. Comparing the nuances is crucial to selecting and maximizing cost savings for members.
TRICARE beneficiaries have complete access to Telemynd’s national network of licensed therapists and prescribers, with no predetermined maximum for sessions per calendar year. As an in-network provider, there are no referral or authorization requirements for TRICARE Prime active duty family members and retirees. Telemynd offers 100 percent virtual sessions conducted via secure video, making treatment accessible for patients across the country.
“There’s no shortage of discussion around the military mental health crisis, but there is a severe lack of actionable solutions that address the unmet need,” said Herguth. “Telemynd’s approach starts with offering a human connection to the real people caught in this care gap – it’s our team, not our technology, here to help from the moment you reach out for support.”