Data shows reach of Walgreens’ mental health platform after 1 year
DEERFIELD, Ill. — In the year since Walgreens launched its mental health initiative and Mental Health America collaboration, the retailer is sharing data on the results and reach of the effort. Roughly three-quarters of visitors to the online platform are taking active follow-up steps, the retailer announced Tuesday, noting that its digital mental health resources also are reaching a broader demographic of consumers.
Patients whose mental health screenings originate through Walgreens.com/mentalhealth, where they can access free online screening tools for bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD and depression offered through MHA’s website, are more likely to want a referral, according to de-identified screening data.
Additionally, they are more likely to take an anxiety screening, with 26% of those visits originating from Walgreens taking one compared with 11% of those who don’t. And when it comes to demographics, Walgreens site visitors trend older, with 47% being ages 35 and older, compared to 9% of MHA users.
“One of our primary objectives when first launching this program was to help meet the growing need for resources and access to care,” Walgreens chief medical officer Dr. Harry Leider said. “We’re proud to know that the tools and services we’re offering, along with Mental Health America and its community-based resources and screening program, are enabling more people to seek answers or help. We look forward to finding more ways to work together, and with other providers and partners to address the many challenges facing both patients and our mental health system today.”
More than 30% of the Walgreens visitors who have taken active steps following screenings have said they found treatment, with 1-in-4 saying they discussed their results with family, friends or a healthcare professional.
“Mental Health America is pleased to be working with Walgreens on this important initiative,” MHA president and CEO Paul Gionfriddo said. “Our online screening program is often a critical first step for people who have mental health concerns, and because of this collaboration, we’ve seen a more diversified group of visitors to our site, including older generations and caregivers, as well as people who have had a prior mental health diagnosis.”
And soon, visitors to MHA’s website will have access to Walgreens pharmacists for assistance with medication-related questions. This summer, the site will roll out Walgreens Pharmacy chat for secure one-on-one chats with Walgreens pharmacists.