Teachers do so much for our communities. They shape the minds of our future generations, inspire curiosity and creativity, and foster a love of learning. They also serve as mentors, role models, and leaders.

But with that comes pressure. High expectations, limited resources, and long hours can take a toll on their behavioral health (BH).¹ These common conditions can affect your employees’ productivity and motivation and impact their physical health and quality of life.²

Your employees deserve extra support.

It’s clear that even more support and resources are needed to promote mental well-being in Arizona’s schools and throughout the state. We created a Behavioral Health Action Plan to engage 525,000 individuals in improving behavioral health by 2025.

Our goal is to make it easier for all Arizonans, including teachers, to get behavioral health support. Members will have access to a wide range of behavioral health (BH) resources, programs, and services, including:

•  Expanded network
  • More Providers – We’ve added more than 2,000 behavioral health providers such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists - bringing the total number of AZ Blue BH providers to nearly 9,000. Members will have more care options throughout Arizona.
  • More Capabilities – Members have access to provider matching tools that help them find the best provider to meet their needs and preferences. Online appointment booking is also available.
  • Virtual Visits – Many providers offer virtual visits. Virtual visits can save time, money, and hassle, and reduce the stigma and barriers in seeking behavioral health care.

• Care management – Health is personal, and our Care Managers work to meet personalized needs. Licensed clinicians identify members who need extra support, direct them to care and services, help them navigate the often-complicated healthcare system, and ensure their health needs are being met. In 2023, we were able to reach 70% of members identified as “at-risk”.
• 24/7 telehealth access – With BlueCare Anywhere, employees can connect with licensed behavioral health professionals anytime, anywhere via phone, video, or chat. They can schedule appointments for urgent or non-urgent issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or substance abuse. They can also get referrals, prescriptions, and follow-up care.
• Digital wellness program – All members have access to Sharecare^®, our digital wellness platform with personalized tools and resources such as assessments, personalized coaching, as well as challenges, and rewards. Unwinding by Sharecare is a mental well-being app designed to help members better understand how their minds work, reduce stress, and build healthier habits – delivered via smartphone or tablet.
• Additional support programs – AZ Blue offers value-added programs and training such as Mental Health First Aid and workplace wellness webinars that educate on and reduce stress in the workplace.
• Behavioral health education – Members can visit azblue.com/behavioral-health to learn more about behavioral health and get connected to care, resources, online screenings, help lines, and important insights such as finding the right type of care.

At AZ Blue, we are committed to connecting our members with the behavioral health care they need and deserve to achieve and feel their best.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can work together to improve the health of your district employees.

¹ - Burnt out profession data: Overworked and Undervalued: Retaining Top Educators (gallup.com)
²- Anxiety and depression data: Mental Health and Substance Use State Fact Sheets: Arizona | KFF