In recent years, mental health support has become an expected benefit in the workplace. But certain industries like journalism and companies like Hearst require more customized solutions beyond traditional employee assistance programs (EAPs). Frontline reporters become emergency responders, covering all kinds of tragic events, from wars to epidemics to violence.
According to the DART Center for Journalism & Trauma, research suggests that 80 to 100 percent of all journalists nationwide have been exposed to a traumatic event related to their work, and according to the Nieman Institute, more than 60 percent report experiencing high levels of anxiety.
Expecting to be constantly “on” and breaking the news with a 24/7 news cycle can also lead to burnout, exhaustion, and limited work-life balance. All these factors can impact the mental health of journalists on the front lines of reporting.
With approximately 2,400 colleagues nationwide, Hearst Newspapers recognized the need for professional mental health services early on and partnered with Spring Health to provide fast appointments with therapists, virtual behavioral health options, and a variety of We have launched a variety of benefits including provider networks, managers and HR professionals. training.
How the pandemic made mental health a priority at Hearst
Working as a journalist has always been a mentally and emotionally challenging career path, but coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought these issues to the forefront for many media organizations. .
One particularly overwhelmed colleague reached out to Hearst Newspapers for help and was referred to resources that provide mental health support to many journalists, not just Hearst. However, this resource did not provide sufficient trauma support.
“During the pandemic, we had journalists on the front lines, but none of us really knew the impact of reporting from hospitals and high-stress areas. We realized that our traditional EAP program might not be as specialized as we needed it to be.”
Maria Walsh, SVP and Head of Global Benefits, Hearst
To better understand the needs of journalists, Hearst conducted focus groups to uncover the stress and danger of a journalist's job, as well as the emotional toll it takes. Hearst was very thoughtful about the criteria for selecting his proven mental health solutions. “We are very data-driven, so we wanted a vendor that could support that,” Maria explains. Hearst also wanted to solve the problem of access. That meant finding a provider quickly. This has been difficult in metropolitan areas such as: In New York City and San Francisco, colleagues were waiting weeks or even months for therapy appointments.
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, Hearst needed a mental health solution that would provide accurate mental health care as quickly as possible. The company selected Spring Health, which is customized for each enrolled member and has proven evidence-based results and net positive financial ROI.
Customizing Care: Why Hearst Needed a Customized Mental Health Solution
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the national average wait time for a therapy appointment in the United States is 48 days, which is far too long for people with urgent mental health needs, such as trauma support. Since switching to Spring Health, Hurst's colleagues and their dependents can now schedule treatment appointments in an average of 1.3 days and medication management appointments in her 1.8 days.
To ensure your Hearst colleagues find the right provider the first time, you can choose from Spring Health's extensive directory that includes provider credentials, specialty areas, languages spoken, and other details. Spring Health's data-driven provider matching technology helps enrolled members and their dependents identify the right physician or coach. This, along with continuity of care, helps ensure therapeutic coordination, which is a key predictor of good clinical outcome. Once your Hearst colleagues have access to eight targeted treatment visits per year, you can continue to work with therapists in our network at a lower cost to support your long-term success. This emphasis on compatibility with healthcare professionals contributed to the high ratings (average 9.3/10) that Hearst colleagues gave her Spring Health care team in 2023.
The value of hiring a dedicated in-house clinician
When Spring Health was rolled out to Hearst colleagues, journalists had quick access to mental health resources, but they needed more resources, especially therapists who understood their unique cultures and experiences. I started sharing that. Spring Health worked with Hearst to develop a very specific job description for its in-house clinicians who are highly trained in trauma and his PTSD and licensed in both California and Texas. Spring Health has discovered Mariah Winslow.based in san francisco chronicleMariah has a dual state license, which allows her to support her colleagues at Hearst. Houston Chronicle, Plainview Herald; and san antonio express news In the same way.
Shortly after Mariah arrived, a colleague at Hearst tweeted about the new in-house clinician. This led to a report in Poynter magazine, praising much-needed mental health support in journalism. Internal praise was similarly positive.
“Mariah is the best therapist I've ever worked with,” says a Hearst colleague. “In the last few months, I have made more progress and found inner peace than any other therapist I have ever worked with. I have processed a lot of trauma and found my way to true happiness. I’m finding it.”
Another added, “Mariah is making me a happier, less stressed person and has more purpose in improving my current emotional and physical health.”
Mariah, who says her role as an in-house clinician has been a career highlight, feels her mission closely aligns with that of a journalist. “I’m always interested in hearing the details people share about their lives,” she says. “Most of all, I hope that I can help people understand that there is room for what they are going through. That's not to say that it's not important.”
“Spring really stepped up to the challenge. We never thought we'd be able to do something like that. We wanted someone who was highly trained in trauma and PTSD and who could talk to journalists. , it was like finding a unicorn.”
Reducing the stigma of mental health in journalism
The Spring Health partnership has helped normalize talking about stress and trauma at Hearst. Mental health is now embedded in company culture. “The leadership really helped with that,” Maria says. “It's not taboo anymore.”
As Hearst's in-house clinician, Mariah also plays a key role in keeping stigmas at bay, including:
- Fostering a larger conversation around mental health
- Host a session for HR and other leaders on how to build a culture of care and respond in an empathetic and trauma-informed manner.
- Providing support for critical incident response
- Help raise awareness of the mental health support available to Hearst colleagues through newsletters and home mailers.
Measure Hearst engagement and progress over time
Hurst colleagues begin their Spring Health experience by taking a short, clinically validated assessment that screens for more than a dozen different clinical issues and creates a personalized care plan. This ensures each colleague receives the care they need. To track progress over time, enrolled colleagues will be asked to re-evaluate their progress periodically (approximately every two weeks). This data is critical to determining your return on investment and making informed decisions for the future. “For us, it's all indicators,” says Maria. “After just two visits, she found that more and more of her colleagues were actually saying they felt better.”
From a usage perspective, Hearst colleagues have been very receptive and engaged with Spring Health's solution. “We are almost 30% committed to mental health solutions,” Maria adds. “Her traditional EAP was less than 2%.”
Wellness Essentials: ROI Insights and Clinical Results
As more of Hearst's colleagues have access to mental health care, one might expect the cost of health insurance to rise, but that hasn't happened.
Instead, Hearst saw a significant decrease in overall health care spending, primarily due to reductions in physical health care costs. This reduction offsets increased mental health costs and fees for Spring Health's programs, resulting in a net positive ROI and highlighting the important link between mental health and physical health. Spending smarter on mental health not only supports the mental health of Hearst colleagues, but also reduces overall physical health-related expenses.
To date, 30% of all colleagues have enrolled in Spring Health, with 84% of enrollees completing a clinical assessment and 65% participating in one or more treatment sessions.
- To date, 30% of all colleagues have enrolled in Spring Health, with 84% of enrollees completing a clinical assessment and 65% participating in one or more treatment sessions.
- Among Hearst colleagues enrolled in Spring Health, 87% of patients with depression and 83% of patients with anxiety improved their symptoms, with 62% and 58%, respectively, improving to mild or no symptoms.
- From an ROI perspective, Spring Health saved Hearst $283 per member per month, restored an average of 140 hours of productive time per member per year, and reduced caregiver turnover by 75%. We were able to reduce it.
Partnerships for better outcomes in mental health care
This data shows that Spring Health is working for Hearst's colleagues. This solution paves the way for a future where mental health care is more personalized, accessible and effective, ultimately leading to the health and well-being of our colleagues.
“Spring Health is the perfect vendor. What they do is completely different from other providers. Sometimes we ask for very specific things, but they are always collaborative and helpful. They always listened to us and worked with us.”
– Maria Walsh
About Hearst
Spring Health Release Date: February 2021
Company size: Approximately 22,000 worldwide
Spring Health benefits are available to approximately 11,000 Hearst colleagues and 19,000 dependents.
Clinical outcomes for enrolled colleagues: February 1, 2023 to date
Industry: Diverse information, services, media
About Hearst Newspapers
Hearst Newspapers operates more than 50 major websites, 24 daily newspapers and 52 weekly magazines, innovative digital products and businesses, including King features, Hearst DevHub, and more.
