It is 11 p.m. The shift is over. The children are asleep. The house is finally quiet enough to acknowledge what you have been pushing aside all day: you could use someone to talk to.
For another employee, that moment comes before a 6 a.m. shift. For someone else, it arrives on Sunday, when there is finally room to think beyond the next task.
Mental health needs do not adhere to office hours. Benefits should account for that.
September was Suicide Prevention Month. Our August 18 post explored why workplace mental health matters. This month, we are focusing on what happens after an employee decides to seek support. Knowing that care exists is only useful if there is a practical way to access it.
At HealthCues, we help employers offer additional health benefits beyond primary insurance through our workplace health program partners. Our offerings include 24/7 telemedicine and teletherapy, health and behavioral coaching, an online health assessment, health education, and a digital portal. Together, these resources give participating employees multiple ways to engage with their health. Explore HealthCues benefits.
The value of those resources becomes clearer when you consider an ordinary workweek.
A daytime appointment can mean arranging shift coverage, forfeiting wages, securing transportation, or explaining an absence. For a parent or caregiver, the available hour may vanish between pickup, dinner, and someone else’s needs. An employee may be fully ready to seek help yet still struggle to find a time that works.
Virtual care can reduce the travel required for an appointment and make it easier to participate from a suitable private location. That matters when a visit would otherwise require an afternoon away from work. It also makes the appointment schedule important: removing the commute helps most when employees can find a time they can attend consistently.
HealthCues’ teletherapy benefit belongs in that practical conversation. Employees should know how to access it, request care, and what to expect next. Employers should make those instructions easy to find outside the workplace, when someone may finally have the privacy to act.
The broader HealthCues offering also includes a dedicated health and behavioral coaching team that helps participating employees take steps toward better health. Health education provides another way to build understanding, while the online assessment helps inform prevention and health programs. These resources complement the virtual care offering; coaching and educational content serve different purposes than clinical treatment. HealthCues program overview.
An employee does not need to navigate every resource at once. Clear communication should help identify the appropriate starting point and explain how to use it.
That clarity is especially important for the phrase “24/7.” Employees need to know what is available when they reach out: a way to request care, a live consultation, help with scheduling, or another form of support. They also need to understand appointment availability and response times. Round-the-clock access should never leave anyone guessing whether a therapist will respond immediately.
For employees using HealthCues benefits, the program materials should be the starting point for details. Confirm how your specific benefit works, including the process for teletherapy appointments and follow-up care. For an urgent mental health crisis, use the crisis resources above rather than waiting for routine care.
This September, make your benefits review practical. Whether you are an employee reviewing your options or an employer helping your team use HealthCues, start with these questions:
- Can I get started outside work hours? Find your access instructions and confirm you can use them on a personal device. Complete any required account setup before you need support.
- What happens when I request teletherapy? Check how appointments are scheduled, which hours are available, and how follow-up visits are handled. Ask specifically about times that fit your shift, caregiving responsibilities, and time zone.
- What does my benefit include? Confirm eligibility, family access, session limits, and any applicable costs in your program materials. Knowing the details makes it easier to take the next step with confidence.
- Which resource fits my needs? Understand the roles of teletherapy, health and behavioral coaching, and telemedicine. Keep the instructions for each service accessible so you know where to begin.
- How is my privacy handled? Review the confidentiality information, what information may be shared, and whom to contact with questions. Choose a location where you can speak privately during a virtual visit.
Employers can reinforce access by making room for care during the workday, too. Clear policies for appointments and reasonable shift coverage help employees make full use of the benefits offered to them. Evening availability should expand options without making lost sleep the price of getting support.
At 11 p.m., an employee may be ready to request an appointment. They may need information about their benefits or immediate crisis support. Each situation deserves a clear next step.
This month, take a closer look at the HealthCues resources available through your workplace. If you are an employer, connect with HealthCues to explore how our benefits can support your team. Make it easier for the decision to seek help to translate into action.