According to Marco Fiorini, Cincinnati Sports Club General Manager, “ “After much collaboration with our health care partner, we worked together to find a way to offer these much-needed services to our members. Being able to keep these sessions completely confidential was key, as it establishes a level of trust with our members. We will never receive the names of the individuals that are using this program. We will, however, be able to track the number of people that have utilized these free services.”
“Depression and anxiety are at an all-time high, adds Fiorini, “with an estimated 16 million Americans struggling with mental health issues each year. While regular exercise five days a week has been proven to ease both depression and anxiety, many people still struggle, needing additional help and guidance from a mental health professional. We are now ‘filling the gap’ for our members by providing them with this extra support that serves the whole person, helping them to better navigate the stress,
Fiorini adds, “After launching this service to our members in the first quarter,, we have already surpassed our annual expense budget for 2023, and have made the necessary adjustments which will allow us continue to provide these much-needed services to our membership community.
No referral is needed for the free confidential counseling services. Members are able to call or connect online to schedule with a licensed counselor for three, free telehealth sessions. If they wish to continue working with a mental health professional on a long-term basis, the licensed counselor will direct them to resources that will work with their insurance, their employer’s EAP (Employee Assistance Program), or other community resources.
Fiorini concludes, “Serving the whole person has always been our goal, and we are proud to be taking this next step in making a long-term difference in our members’ lives not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.”