Blog: Supporting families managing mental health issues
Dr. Tavakoli shares how employers can support parents of children with mental health needs via robust benefits and compassionate cultures.
By Dr. Donald Tavakoli, Behavioral Health National Medical Director, UnitedHealthcare
The youth mental health crisis has reached a critical inflection point — and its effects extend well beyond homes and clinical settings, reverberating into workplaces and placing a growing burden on working parents and caregivers.
The data paints a clear and urgent picture:
- 40% of U.S. high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness1
- 18% of U.S. high school students experienced a major depressive disorder1
- 20% of U.S. adolescents reported symptoms of anxiety, and 18% reported symptoms of depression in the 2 weeks prior to the survey2
- 51% of youth under 18 who completed a depression screen reported frequent suicidal ideation in 2025 — the highest rate recorded since the program launched in 20143
These clinical realities follow caregivers into our workplaces. Research published in 2025 found that 65% of working parents reported burnout, with the presence of a mental health condition in a child identified as a significant contributing risk factor.4
As a father and licensed, board-certified psychiatrist, I understand the critical need to support parents and caregivers in addressing their children's mental health. Employers can play a vital role in this support.
Here are 5 strategies that can help ensure employees and their families are getting the care and support they need:
1. Work with a carrier that offers an expansive network
3.6 days
average online booking wait for behavioral health in 2025 of surveyed employers5
Expanding the network of available behavioral health providers and coaches, including those who offer virtual appointments, may help make it easier for parents to find the necessary support for their children. Since 2020, UnitedHealthcare has grown its national behavioral health network by about 116% to more than 496K providers and its virtual provider network to more than 275K providers.6
Plus, UnitedHealthcare’s search experience goes beyond simply finding a provider. Eligible employees can schedule appointments directly within the platform, with most appointments available in 5 days or fewer — so care is not just accessible, but actionable.
2. Provide education around different behavioral health severity issues
Many children may have milder needs that can be supported through lower-severity solutions.7 Through our behavioral health coaching, a dedicated coach and family — including parents, caregivers, teens, and children — come together to build a personalized, goal-oriented partnership grounded in evidence-based treatment methods, addressing behavioral, functional and other goals, such as anxiety, stress management, ADHD, and social media and technology addiction.
3. Ensure employees know how to access care
Offering 24/7 access to “in-the-moment support,” in which specialists provide confidential, emotional support tailored to each member over the phone can help support caregivers on next steps and offer recommendations for ongoing care. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which offer immediate support, can also be invaluable in helping parents navigate the behavioral health challenges family members face.
4. Offer tools and resources that meet employees where they are
Providing practical tools and resources, such as conversation starters for discussing mental health with children and apps like Calm Health, can empower parents and teens to better understand and manage their mental health. Calm Health, available to teens aged 13 and older, offers content modules on topics such as “Taking Charge of Your Teen Anxiety,” “Menstrual Cycle Self-Care” and “College Depression.” It also includes specialized content for parents, such as “Parenting Teens with Mental Health Conditions.”
5. Offer integrated behavioral health benefits
Offering robust behavioral health benefits that include mental health screenings during annual preventive care visits can facilitate early detection and intervention. Integrating medical and behavioral health benefits can help facilitate quicker access to care, which is essential for effective management of mental health conditions.
By providing robust behavioral health benefits and fostering a workplace culture that acknowledges and actively supports mental health, employers can significantly contribute to the well-being of their employees' families. This, in turn, may enhance overall productivity and employee satisfaction.
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