This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, Independence Blue Cross provides insight into the youth mental health crisis.

This follows the release of a new report by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) that analyzed commercial data from Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies from across the United States.

According to the BCBSA report Addressing Youth Mental Health Crisis: Key Insights & Actions, the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in teens, ages 15 to 17, doubled from 2019 to 2022. The BCBSA study also investigates the latest trends in MDD diagnosis and treatment in youth by race/ethnicity, social vulnerability, and geographic population density. This analysis spans 2019 to 2023 and is based on the medical claims of more than one million BCBS commercially insured youth with MDD between ages six and 17.

An analysis of IBX claims data found higher MDD prevalence in older teens, ages 15-17, when compared to the national average. For example, in 2022, the national average was six percent, compared to 9.7 percent for IBX members. However, the IBX incidence rate in 2022 increased to almost 1.5 times the rate in 2019, compared to the national rate which doubled. Younger age groups (ages 6-14) matched the national trends more closely.

The report also cited that primary care physicians (PCPs) account for 41 percent of initial MDD diagnosis for the national youth population. IBX claims data showed similar rates of diagnoses by the PCPs in its network, but also an increasing trend of initial MDD diagnoses by behavioral health providers.

“Today’s youth are living through a time of increasing stress and uncertainty,” said Rodrigo Cerdá, Senior Vice President of Health Services and Chief Medical Officer at IBX. “Through meaningful partnerships and work in our communities, we’re taking a multi-faceted approach to provide our region’s youth with increased access to behavioral healthcare, better coordination of care, and the tools they need to navigate the challenges they face in school, at home and in their everyday lives.”

MDD, also known as clinical depression, is a mental health condition characterized by persistently low mood and loss of interest in activities that once brought joy. It can also affect one’s sleep patterns, appetite, and ability to think clearly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the prevalence of this condition is most common in adolescents.

The Department of Health and Human Services found that almost half of youth experience a mental health disorder. Trauma, isolation and other societal factors are increasingly impacting youth mental health at staggering rates, highlighting the need for immediate action.

Some of the ways IBX is working to address the youth mental health crisis include:

Providing Faster and Easier Access to the Right Care

IBX has expanded its behavioral health network by nearly 50 percent since 2022 to ensure improved access for both in-person and virtual care options. This expansion includes incorporating access to some tools that help young people find the mental health care they may need. Members also have access to a Connect to Care sub-specialty network of providers who help members quickly find and schedule appointments using live intake and scheduling tools.

Several of these providers specialize in caring for children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Among them are Little Otter, Blackbird Health, Handspring Health, Hopscotch, and Joon. Members accessing a Connect to Care provider are receiving care in under six days and getting to care even faster when scheduled by an IBX staff member, with an average time to first appointment of only 4.8 days from contact with IBX.

Helping Members Navigate the System

IBX has Behavioral Health Case Managers, Care Advocates, and Licensed Behavioral Health professionals available to provide 24/7 navigation, risk screening, crisis management, direct scheduling, and follow-ups. A Clinical Triage Team handles high-risk cases with expedited care. These tools and services ensure members receive timely and effective care, resulting in better outcomes and improved access.

Building Meaningful Partnerships

IBX is working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia to promote youth mental health and well-being as part of a national BCBSA initiative. IBX also collaborates with the Boys & Girls Clubs to offer volunteer activities that foster well-being and inspire youth to thrive.

Also, IBX is supporting a groundbreaking initiative focused on the provision of mental health resources for youth soccer players, parents, and coaches in collaboration with the Philadelphia Union Foundation and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The program focuses on three components: in-person positive mindset and resilience coaching sessions for players, coaches, and parents; a digital mental health toolkit focused on depression, grief, social media use, anxiety, and bullying; and an annual mental fitness forum.

Reducing Mental Crisis Among Youth

Initiatives of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation have expanded mental health resources in schools through a citywide collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and community programs for children with area nonprofits like Eluna, Ed Snider Youth Hockey, and Family Support Line of Delaware County, and CHOP’s Behavioral Health Crisis Center.

Learn more about how Independence Blue Cross strives for its members’ health and wellness by giving them the resources they need to live every day better.