Clocking In for Mental Health: How Flexible Mental Healthcare Is Changing the Game for Busy Business Leaders

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“I’m just going to respond to this one work e-mail before going to bed.”

Two hours later, and after a 14-hour workday before those two hours, the senior leader puts down his phone and looks over at his sleeping partner. He gets five hours of sleep.

Flash forward to 6 a.m. and he reaches for his phone. His inbox is already full, so he fills the growing pit in his stomach with enough coffee to overflow the Grand Canyon.

Sound familiar? If it does, that’s because it’s become the norm for business leaders, entrepreneurs and thriving professionals. While there are no superlatives for “working the most hours” or “responding to the most e-mails after business hours” this behavior is often applauded, or expected, for those who are in or want to be in leadership positions.

The result? Almost always a self-sacrifice of happiness and wellbeing, matched with high stress and burnout, that negatively impact productivity and ROI.

As mental health struggles in the boardroom continue to rise, with many either delaying or completely avoiding help, it’s time to turn to a new solution: flexible mental healthcare that combines in-person and telehealth services. With more options, even the busiest business leaders can access comprehensive care without disrupting their schedules.

Emotional Overtime: A Look at C-Suite Burnout

Over half of top executives struggle with mental health, according to a 2024 study from BusinessSolver. Within the past year, 55% of CEOs reported mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, with even more struggling with work-related stress or burnout. Entrepreneurs are at even greater risk, with 72% impacted by a mental health illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Half of entrepreneurs also say they have at least one mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD or substance abuse. Beyond this, business owners and founders are 50% more likely to have a mental health condition compared to the general public.

Despite this, many business leaders remain silent about their mental health struggles due to factors such as stigma, fear of looking weak and concerns about how their stakeholders and coworkers might react. Startup Snapshot found that 81% of business founders aren’t open about their mental health and 77% don’t seek help.

Ted Guastello

“Business leaders are often so focused on leading teams and company growth that they overlook the very thing that sustains it: their own mental health,” says Ted Guastello, CEO of AMFM Healthcare. “Managing teams while making critical decisions and being under consistent pressure to perform can take a significant toll, ultimately affecting both the individual and the company.”

Bankrupting the Boardroom: The Costs of Untreated Mental Health

The de-prioritization of mental health and undertreatment translates into serious consequences for businesses. This includes decreased productivity (with half of business owners admitting that their mental health was contributing to a decreased bottom line), increased errors, increased health issues that contributed to absenteeism or even worse, presenteeism. A Gallup poll found that nearly one-fifth of employees rate their mental health as fair or poor, and this group is four times more likely to take unplanned sick days, with an average of 12 lost workdays vs. 2.5 for other employees.

Unaddressed mental health issues translate to $300 billion in lost productivity each year in the United States, according to NAMI, with untreated depression alone costing employers approximately $9,450 per employee annually, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

The bottom line: Those who don’t prioritize mental health are not only hurting themselves, but also their companies.

From Stress to Success: The Future of Mental Health Is Flexible

Being an entrepreneur or business leader doesn’t have to mean sacrificing overall wellbeing. The combination of in-person and telehealth solutions are the future for today’s busiest executives and team members looking to boost their mental health and their bottom line.

“The mental healthcare landscape is changing to make care more accessible for professionals,” says Guastello. “While traditional mental health treatment models often require individuals to put their professional and personal lives on hold, the shift to a flexible, hybrid model that blends telehealth and in-person therapy allows busy professionals to get the support they need to thrive without stepping away from their responsibilities.”

And, this model is working. The National Institutes for Health finds that while there are still immense benefits from in-person therapy, virtual therapy can be just as effective, with those undergoing virtual therapy experiencing reduced depression, anxiety, stress and burnout. A 2023 survey from Doximity also found that 85% say telemedicine is as good as in-person care.

AMFM Healthcare’s Mission Connection offers comprehensive mental healthcare that is tailored to individual needs and designed to fit seamlessly into busy schedules.

“We built Mission Connection with flexibility in mind,” adds Guastello. “We believe mental wellness should be accessible, adaptable, and most importantly, effective.”

The unique hybrid approach blends in-person and telehealth to allow business leaders to engage in therapy and group support without disrupting their work schedules.

Here’s how it works:

A quick connect with a Mission Connection expert allows professionals to verify insurance and pricing information and ask questions about the program.
Professionals will complete an online assessment, on their own time, to provide insights into specific challenges and concerns so that the care provided is tailored.
After the assessment is reviewed, a licensed therapist will discuss treatment options around business and personal needs. This may include group therapy, 1:1 counseling or experiential sessions. All will be delivered through either telehealth or in-person therapy, depending on needs and availability.
An individual plan is created, and therapy begins.

This accessible model means that business leaders and entrepreneurs don’t have to choose between running their company and prioritizing their mental health—allowing them to help balance the books when it comes to burnout and continue to thrive in this fast-paced world.

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