Your behavioral health benefits

Mental and behavioral health benefits may be available to you through your employee assistance program or health plan. In this article, we take a look at the benefits available to employees of Washington state agencies and educational institutions. We also highlight the strengths of each option to help you decide how each benefit can meet your needs.

Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Washington State EAP serves employees of executive cabinet state agencies. The EAP also serves other public organizations in Washington, by contract. EAP services are available to the employee and adult members of their household.

EAP services for employees provide short-term counseling services for personal or workplace concerns. You’ll receive 1–3 sessions with a licensed mental health professional, who will focus on helping you develop a solution for a specific concern. An EAP counselor can also point you to other sources of help, including a longer-term therapist.

Behavioral health benefits under PEBB and SEBB

Employees and their dependents enrolled in School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) or Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) health insurance plans have mental health and behavioral health coverage. You may contact your health plan for more information about these benefits as well as the programs listed below.

Kaiser Permanente plans

Kaiser Permanente behavioral health benefits from Kaiser Permanente Northwest (serving SW Washington/Oregon) and Kaiser Permanente Washington offer three apps to support mental health.

• myStrength. Interactive and activity-based tools personalized to you. The tools address conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, substance use disorders, and chronic pain.
• Calm. Guided meditations, sleep stories, and exclusive music tracks to help lower stress and anxiety.
• Ginger. Text one-on-one with an emotional support coach, 24/7. Discuss goals, share challenges, create an action plan, and get recommended self-care resources.

Kaiser also provides members with phone, video, or in-person appointments with mental health specialists. To make an appointment, visit Kaiser Mental Health Services and select your plan region.

Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) plans

• Case management. If you are looking to get help with a mental health or substance use concern, the first step is to contact UMP customer service and inquire about case management.
• myStrength. myStrength is a self-guided health and resiliency online tool clinically proven to improve emotional health. This secure resource is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to members ages 13 and over at no cost. myStrength’s interactive and activity-based tools are personalized to you and address conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, substance use disorders, and chronic pain. Visit the myStrength website to sign up and learn more.
• Quartet. Quartet matches members (ages 18 and older who reside and are seeking care in Washington state) to in-person and telemedicine behavioral health providers who are in the plan’s network and offer an array of behavioral health services, including, but not limited to, mental health counseling, substance use disorder, and psychiatry services. UMP members can sign up, and get matched to a provider, through visiting the Quartet website. Medicare members will need to check that providers accept Medicare.
• Doctor on Demand. UMP plans include telemedicine powered by Doctor On Demand. You can talk to any of Doctor On Demand’s board-certified physicians, licensed counselors and psychiatrists any time by video chat using your computer or the app, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Register with Doctor On Demand now so that when you actually need care, you’re ready. You can activate Doctor On Demand through your Regence account or by downloading the app for iOS, Android, or Windows.

Premera plans (SEBB program only)

Depending on your plan, school employee Premera members may search the Premera network for providers, including those offering virtual visits. Premera also offers the MyCare app, which provides virtual 24/7 care, including mental health therapy and support. Visit Premera virtual care for more information.

24/7 crisis support options

The national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The lifeline is available 24/7 by texting or calling 988. Employees and their household adult family members covered by the Washington State EAP also have access to 24/7 in-the-moment crisis counseling. Read EAP’s 988 bulletin to learn about these crisis counseling options.

The Department of Enterprise Services and the Washington State EAP thank the Washington State Health Care Authority for contributing to this article.

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The Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential program created to promote the health, safety and well-being of public service employees and their household adult family members. EAP provides counseling and other resources to support well-being, address workplace concerns, and help with legal and financial issues. Reach out to EAP online or call 877–313–4455. To find out if the Washington State EAP serves your agency or organization, contact your supervisor or human resources department.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience. The Employee Assistance Program and the Department of Enterprise Services do not endorse the content, services, or viewpoints found at these external sites. Information is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the counsel or advice of a qualified health or legal professional. For further help, questions, or referral to community resources for specific problems or personal concerns, contact the EAP or other qualified professional.