Online retailer Amazon has enhanced its mental health benefits for more than one million US employees.
Full-time US Amazon employees will be able to access in-person and online therapy and psychiatric care as part of the firm’s redesigned employee assistance programme (EAP), provided by mental health platform Grow Therapy. This is available across all 50 states.
The programme will see staff receive their first six therapy sessions through the EAP for free, along with a pathway to covered providers afterwards. They will be able to access faster scheduling, with appointments available in two to three days, and flexible care options, with virtual and in-person care and appointments available days, nights and weekends to accommodate varied work schedules.
Employees who need additional counseling can access continuity of care options aligned to their applicable insurance plan and thousands of vetted providers with dozens of specialties.
Through Grow Therapy’s mobile app, staff have free access to clinically guided AI tools to support self-reflection between sessions. With their consent, relevant insights can be shared with Amazon ahead of their next appointment to keep them focused and productive.
Amazon decided to introduce this support because it wanted to expand access to mental health support for employees from all backgrounds, and provide a simple and seamless path for those wanting to seek mental health care.
Chris Decou, global director of health benefits at Amazon, said: “We want our employees to be able to access the support they need, when they need it. Partnering with Grow makes it easier for employees to find a high-quality mental health provider without disruption, and it’s another way we’re continuously improving the benefits and resources we offer to support their wellbeing.”
