News|Articles|June 12, 2026

How PBMs are tackling behavioral health

Author(s)Denise Myshko
Fact checked by: Cheney Gazzam Baltz

Demand for behavioral healthcare has surged, increasing costs for health plans and employers as millions of Americans deal with mental illness, substance use disorders and access challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the cracks in America’s mental and behavioral healthcare system. At the height of the pandemic, the rates of depression and anxiety worldwide had increased by 25%, according to the World Health Organization, and 90% of adults in the U.S. believed the country was facing a mental health crisis, according to results of a KFF/CNN survey.