Starbucks Coffee Company announced Monday a reimagined mental health care benefit for its U.S. employees that is more accessible, robust and tailored to partners specific needs than ever before.
Beginning April 6, Starbucks will provide all U.S. partners and eligible family members access to 20 sessions a year with a mental health therapist or coach through Lyra Health, all at no cost to the user.
The innovative mental health benefits provider, Lyra Health, will connect more Starbucks partners to high quality care. Starbucks partners will be able to securely and confidentially seek evidence-based mental health treatment, identify available health providers that meet their individual needs, and book appointments on the spot with options to meet with their therapist or coach by video or in-person. Starbucks partners may also access self-guided online programs recommended by Lyra Health based on their specific needs. Lyra Health also offers support for legal services, identity theft and financial coaching.
“Caring for Starbucks partners is at the core of our company. We are constantly listening to our partners and exploring new ways to enhance the innovative benefits we offer to support them and their families,” adds Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and CEO. “Mental health is a fundamental part of our humanity and these resources will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and help break the stigma around this complex issue.”
The reimagined mental health care benefit was created based on partner feedback and is the latest update in the company’s comprehensive mental health initiative announced last September, with an aim to promote mental wellness and offer innovative new mental health care benefits that support Starbucks goal to break the stigma.
“We listened to our partners in order to understand what they really need and would really use,” said Ron Crawford, vice president of global benefits at Starbucks. “What we’ve created in partnership with Lyra Health directly addresses the feedback we’ve heard.”
This announcement follows Starbucks introduction of several new and improved benefits this year including Headspace, the daily meditation and mindfulness app, to U.S. and Canada partners, as well as mental health training sessions for U.S. and Canada store managers that will be available this summer in partnership with the National Council for Behavioral Health, inspired by Mental Health First Aid.
“NAMI applauds Starbucks’ effort to increase access to mental health care for their U.S. partners and families,” says Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “We know that through treatment, recovery is possible and having access to free mental health sessions can make a positive impact on anyone struggling with their mental health. This is a new standard for employee benefits which will not only improve the lives of individuals but also the company.”
