Integrated care: a win for employees and employers
A strategic benefits solution for workplaces
In a span of just five years, mental health-related leave surged by 300% between 2017 and 2023. It’s a sign that more employees are struggling even as access to mental health benefits has improved.
Andrew Bertagnolli, PhD, a clinical psychologist and the National Medical Director of Virtual Behavioral Health Services at One Medical, has noticed a steady rise in anxiety, depression, and burnout among patients. “Many people have smaller support networks than before, and access to care is still uneven. All of that contributes to higher stress levels and less recovery time,” he said.
His insights give us actionable steps towards making mental health care easier to use and reshaping workplace culture around mental health.
Why don’t employees use their mental health benefits?
“Many employees simply don’t know what benefits are available or how to use them,” Bertagnolli shared. “Others worry about confidentiality or fear being judged for seeking help. Sometimes the process itself is too complicated, with long wait times or few providers who match their needs or schedules. Even when people want to get help, those barriers can make it feel overwhelming.”
According to a 2025 Workplace Mental Health poll conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in workplaces with 100 people or more:
- 42% of employees said they worry that their career would be negatively impacted if they talked about mental health concerns in the workplace.
- About a quarter of people taking the poll said that they do not know whether their employer offers mental health care benefits, an employee assistance program, flexible work arrangements, or sick days for mental health.
- Only half the workforce knows how to access mental health care through their employer-sponsored health insurance.
How can we help employees make the most of their mental health benefits?
“Communication and culture are key,” Bertagnolli said. “It’s not only about offering therapy sessions — it’s about creating a system that helps people find the right level of support at the right time.”
Employers can start with these key steps:
- Keep mental health benefits visible all year, not just during open enrollment or mental health awareness months.
- Include reminders in meetings or newsletters and make sure people know exactly how to access services.
- When leaders and managers speak openly about stress, therapy, or taking care of themselves, it helps normalize getting help.
- Offer flexible options such as virtual care, after-hours appointments, or access through primary care to make it easy for people to connect.
- When evaluating benefit partners, ask whether they measure outcomes and track improvement rather than utilization only.
- Choose programs that are easy to access, well-integrated, and based on evidence.
Bertagnolli emphasized the advantage of integrated care models that connect behavioral health with primary care.
Bridging mental health and primary care
Integrated care models build behavioral health services into primary care. “They tend to work well because they reduce stigma and allow earlier intervention,” Bertagnolli shared. With this model, employees can talk to their primary care doctor directly — often the medical provider they are most comfortable and familiar with — about their mental health during a standard wellness visit.
Bertagnolli noted, “When people can get help early, they are much less likely to reach a crisis point. It strengthens overall well-being, improves workplace engagement, and even supports physical health. Employees who can manage stress and emotional challenges effectively are more focused, creative, and resilient, which benefits both the individual and the organization.”
With integrated care, everybody wins.
Integrated care: a win for employees and employers
Benefits that use an integrated care model, like those we offer at One Medical, make it easier for employees to get care and feel their best. The result? Happier, healthier teams and lower costs. We’re here to help your workplace succeed.
Learn more about how One Medical can help your employees to stay healthy here.