Expanding Access to Mental Health Treatment for Children and Teens

The mental health of our youngest members has never been more important. At Independence Blue Cross (IBX), we are strengthening our commitment to youth mental health by growing the IBX behavioral health provider network and improving access for children and teen members.

Youth Mental Health Affects Us All

Unfortunately, behavioral health conditions like anxiety and depression have been on the rise among children, adolescents, and young adults. And the World Happiness Report 2024 shows happiness among young people has declined in the U.S.

One of every six children has a diagnosable mental health condition.1 In addition:

Nearly 60 percent of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment.2
Non-white youths have a 35 percent lower diagnosis rate of major depression versus white youths.3
More than half of young adults ages 18 – 21 reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2023.4

The rise in behavioral health concerns for young people doesn’t just impact the kids. Parents and caregivers are also affected, and, as a result, so are their employers. Almost half of employees have a child younger than 18. And 53 percent of working parents have missed work at least once per month to tend to their child’s mental health.5

For the well-being of our young people and communities, IBX has strengthened its commitment to youth mental health with a focus on helping families find quality in-network behavioral health care and improving availability and access.

Enhanced Care Navigation Services for Members

We know that early intervention and integrated care are important for the well-being of children and teens, so we are making it easier for them to get the care they need quickly.

When members need guidance or care related to their child’s behavioral health, they can count on our Behavioral Health team, who can:

Assess and understand the child’s needs
Provide information about in-network treatment options and resources
Put them in touch with a Behavioral Health Case Manager for ongoing support
Connect them to an appropriate in-network behavioral health provider to facilitate fast access to the care they need
Give in-the-moment support during tough times

Members can schedule appointments directly with an in-network provider, or our Behavioral Health team can directly schedule appointments with an IBX behavioral health network provider for them. We can help members get an appointment quickly — usually within a week. We work with several behavioral health providers that offer fast access, are culturally responsive, and provide high-quality care for general mental health issues.

Enriching the IBX Behavioral Health Network

We have expanded the IBX behavioral health network by nearly 50 percent since 2022 to ensure improved access for both in-person and virtual care options. The strong relationships we’ve built with these behavioral health providers ensures our members have fast access to care with proven evidence-based approaches for children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Here are some of them.

Little Otter

Little Otter uses a family-first approach, which recognizes that when one part of a family unit struggles, it can impact everyone. They offer virtual mental health care for children ages 0 – 14 and their families, including therapy and psychiatry. Little Otter’s customized approach includes a comprehensive platform that combines everyday wellness tools with an award-winning child therapy app. Their website also offers myriad resources for families. 

Blackbird Health

Blackbird Health provides diagnostic evaluations and treatment for kids ages 2 – 26 who are struggling with social, developmental, and school-related challenges. They offer both virtual and in-person care. Services include medication management and talk therapy. Blackbird specializes in treating anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, behavioral concerns, autism evaluations, bipolar disorder, and developmental differences (e.g., speech/language, sensory/motor).

Handspring Health

Handspring Health uses a virtual, evidence-based care model to treat common conditions affecting kids ages 8 – 24, including depression, family issues, anger management, and child behavioral disorders. They have highly trained providers on staff who specialize in family psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and other evidence-based approaches. Handspring Health works closely with community partners, including pediatricians and schools, to ensure coordinated care.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch offers virtual care for kids ages 1 – 26, including talk and play therapy. Hopscotch’s treatment model includes an online portal that supports therapy outside of live treatment through games, activities, and mindfulness exercises. They also provide parental training to caregivers and family therapy.

Joon

Joon is a virtual care model designed to address common issues experienced by teens and young adults, ages 13 – 26. Their clinical team treats anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health challenges. Joon has dedicated licensed therapists who can provide personalized treatment plans. They also offer skill-building resources for patients and support for parents, including optional check-ins.

IBX Members Are Not Alone

We have made great progress in making behavioral health services easier for our members to access, but we are not done. We’ll continue focusing on young members and their families and finding ways to enhance the benefits and resources we offer. Most importantly, we want to educate our members about these services so they use them when they need to.

1 Daniel G. Whitney, PhD, and Mark D. Peterson, PhD, “US National and State-Level Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders and Disparities of Mental Health Care Use in Children,” JAMA
 
2 State of Mental Health in America, mhanational.org.
 
3 BCBSA Health of America Youth Mental Health Report, 2023.
 
4 The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use, KFF.org, March 2023.
 
5 Nationwide Children’s Hospital, “The Great Collide: The Impact of Children’s Mental Health on the Workplace,” Nationwide Foundation, Feb. 22, 2022.
 
Little Otter, Blackbird Health, Handspring Health, Hopscotch, and Joon are independent companies.