Mental Health Clinicians Expand Access and Improve Outcomes through Self-Help Web and Mobile Technologies

National Council for Behavioral Health Partners with myStrength

Washington DC, Feb 4, 2013—The National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council) is preparing mental health and addictions treatment organizations to meet the significant increase in demand for services by leveraging innovative online treatment technologies. The National Council has forged a partnership with myStrength, Inc., a digital behavioral health company that helps clinicians extend care by offering web-based and mobile self-help resources to patients.

“Consumers of services are becoming extremely savvy about their own care and wellness. They want on-demand access to treatment and support anytime, anywhere,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council. “We are pleased to partner with myStrength in response to these new treatment trends. Behavioral health, perhaps more than any other healthcare specialty, is suited to leverage virtual delivery and myStrength is making it possible,” she added.

Clinicians using myStrength can help patients manage depression and anxiety in between therapy visits and after therapy ends through interactive coping tools, weekly action plans, daily inspiration and step-by-step learning modules. These digital resources are evidence-based and offered through a HIPAA-compliant platform.

Healthcare organizations across the U.S. have launched myStrength applications, offering 4 million+ consumers access to web-based self-management tools. More than 1,400 community behavioral healthcare clinicians have been trained on myStrength — and now have the ability to augment direct intervention with virtual care.

“Using virtual technologies has helped us extend our capacity beyond the walls of our clinic. We can now more easily engage people in treatment and provide continuous care,” said Carl Clark, MD, CEO of the Mental Health Center of Denver and board chair of the National Council.

Patients using myStrength evidenced 36 percent reduction in depression scores and 33 percent reduction in anxiety scores after 180 days of use. Overall, 91% of users reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with myStrength. Clinicians — like Lindsey Geiger, licensed therapist at the Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network in Colorado — report that myStrength has enhanced and accelerated patient recovery. Other clinicians report the ability to better manage waitlists, reach rural consumers and offer effective relapse management for patients no longer seeing a therapist.

Sharon Raggio, CEO of Colorado West Regional Mental Health, reports community-wide interest in the use of new web-based technologies like myStrength’s. “The new tools have made mental health a trendsetter and our primary care partners are now recommending these resources to their patients,” said Raggio.

A new myStrength smartphone app integrates a unique mood-tracking tool that presents ‘in the moment’ coping and stress management tools. The app also includes short form video interventions. myStrength will continue to evolve resources to manage chronic pain, addiction and trauma.

“We’re excited to partner with the National Council, and complement current care models with patient-directed technologies,” said Scott Cousino, CEO of myStrength. “We look forward to sharing our resources and future innovations at the National Council for Behavioral Health’s Conference, April 8-10 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas,” he added.

The National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council) is the unifying voice of America’s community mental health and addictions treatment organizations. Together with our 2,000 member organizations, we serve our nation’s most vulnerable citizens — the more than 8 million adults and children living with mental illnesses and addiction disorders. We are committed to ensuring all Americans have access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery and full participation in community life. The National Council pioneered Mental Health First Aid in the U.S. and has trained nearly 100,000 individuals to connect youth and adults in need to mental health and addictions care in their communities. Learn more at www.TheNationalCouncil.org.

myStrength, Inc. is an online behavioral health company delivering innovative, evidence-based, scalable solutions for healthcare providers. More than 4.3 million covered lives now have access to myStrength.com and the myStrengthNow mobile app through our partnerships with managed care providers, employee assistance programs and community behavioral health networks. Learn more at www.myStrength.com.