Health Coaching & Mental Health: What Employers Should Know

As mental health needs surge, coaching offers the ongoing, human support employees need to truly thrive.

Virtual Healthcare Is No Longer a “Nice-to-Have” Mental Health Needs Are Escalating — and Evolving

The numbers are sobering: 

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health

• Over 70% of employees report workplace stress, and more than half say it negatively affects their productivity
• Despite increased access to therapy, only 43% of adults with mental illness receive treatment

Why the gap? It’s not just about access to therapists — it’s about ongoing support, accountability, and help with daily behavioral change. That’s where health coaching becomes a powerful, often overlooked complement. 

Coaching: A Human Bridge Between Awareness and Action 

A complement to therapy, which often focuses on deep-rooted psychological issues, health coaching supports behavior change related to stress, lifestyle, mindset, and mental well-being. Coaches meet people where they are — emotionally and practically — and help them move forward. 

Coaching enhances mental health care by: 

• Building resilience and self-efficacy in day-to-day challenges 

• Reinforcing lessons from therapy with real-world application 

• Helping with goal-setting, habit formation, and accountability 

• Supporting early intervention before stress escalates to crisis 

Think of therapy as treating the root; coaching helps with the branches — the day-to-day practices that sustain emotional and mental well-being. 

Why Coaching Works (and What the Data Shows) 

Research shows coaching is an effective tool for reducing stress and improving emotional well-being: 

• A 2020 study published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine found that coaching significantly reduced stress and burnout among healthcare professionals
• The CDC reports that poor mental health is associated with chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease — areas where coaching is proven to help manage risk  

First Stop Health: Mental Health Coaching That Moves the Needle 

First Stop Health offers a uniquely integrated model that blends therapy, primary care, and health coaching — giving employees whole-person support that’s both accessible and actionable. 

Our coaching program includes: 

• Certified health coaches trained in mental well-being, motivational interviewing, and habit formation 

• Guidance on sleep, stress, emotional fitness, and work-life balance 

• Seamless collaboration with primary care and mental health providers 

• No added cost or complexity for the member — just one unified care experience 

Employees can book a session with a coach just as easily as they would a PCP or therapist — helping them stay on track between appointments or when therapy isn’t needed. Appointments are available as soon as next day.  

Support That Sticks 

Mental health care doesn’t end with a diagnosis — or even with therapy. People need tools, encouragement, and follow-through to stay well. 

First Stop Health’s mental health coaching program bridges that gap. It helps employees: 

• Manage stress before it becomes burnout 

• Create healthy, sustainable routines 

• Stay emotionally resilient in a world that never slows down 

And for employers, it means better outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and a more engaged workforce. 

Sources: 

National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Illness Statistics.

American Psychological Association. Work and Well-being Survey 2023. 

Dyrbye et al., Effect of Coaching on Stress and Burnout Among Physicians, Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2020. 

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Intersection of Mental Health and Chronic Disease. 2021.