Behavioral Health Resources
A first-call guide for Rhode Island employers and employees navigating behavioral health benefits — what's usually already in your plan, and how to point people to it.
Start With What's Already in Your Plan
Most plans include more behavioral health access than employees realize
Before assuming a gap exists, it's worth checking what's already built into your current plan. Between in-network provider directories, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and telehealth behavioral health options, many employers are paying for access their employees don't know is there.
In-Network Provider Search
Most carriers offer an online directory to search for in-network behavioral health providers by specialty, location, and availability. Confirm network status before scheduling — it can change between plan years.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
An EAP typically offers a set number of free, confidential counseling sessions along with referral support, often available whether or not the employee is enrolled in the medical plan. Many employers already have one bundled into their group benefits without realizing it.
Telehealth Behavioral Health
Virtual behavioral health visits are increasingly common in plan designs, offering faster access than an in-person wait list — often a practical first step for an employee who isn't sure where to start.
What to do tonight, if someone needs help now
If there is an immediate safety risk, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For urgent, non-life-threatening behavioral health needs, check your plan's member materials for a 24/7 crisis or nurse line, or use the in-network provider search above to find the nearest available behavioral health resource.
For Employers
How HR can help — without collecting PHI
Point people to a first call
Share your EAP number, crisis-line information, and in-network provider search instructions in open enrollment materials and the employee handbook — before a crisis happens, not after.
Know what's in your plan
Ask your advisor what EAP and telehealth behavioral health benefits already exist in your current plan. Many plans include confidential digital mental health programs that employers are never notified about — that confidentiality is a feature, not a gap.
Don't ask for details
HR's role is to point employees to resources, not to collect or evaluate health information. Keep referrals general and let clinical professionals handle the rest.
Use the checklist
Our Resource Library includes a Behavioral Health Navigation Checklist for Employers to help you build this into your HR playbook.