Howard County Government Mental Health Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

Circumstances surrounding the prolonged pandemic have challenged individuals in all aspects of their daily lives. The pandemic also exposed the need for accessible mental health support and deficiencies in current mental health resources made available by most employers. Although most County agencies provide some mental health benefits, most have not made awareness of mental health resources a priority. To address these concerns, Howard County Government developed the “Enhanced Mental Health Program” initiative to provide comprehensive resources to help employees and their dependents address mental health concerns and manage stress. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations, and insurers, Howard County has employed several creative strategies to significantly improve education, enhance access to resources, and reduce costs to the County and its employees. The expanded mental health program has made Howard County a trailblazer both at the State and national levels. The County’s program addresses systemic barriers inhibiting access to mental health support. Providing meaningful free and subsidized resources intended to address mental health concerns, allows individuals to be more productive, reduces absenteeism, and improves the overall health and morale of workforce. The County demonstrates that great programs can succeed with creativity, innovation, and true desire to support the workforce.