Episode 69 - Exploring Innovative Behavioral Health Solutions and Health Literacy with Brian Oss from Calm

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Brian Oss, Head of Solutioning at Calm, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of workforce health literacy, behavioral health, and digital mental health solutions.

Calm is a leading mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Our flagship consumer app - ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across nearly 190 countries - helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices.

Since their launch, they’ve expanded their offerings with Calm Sleep, an app providing deeper, personalized sleep support, and Calm Health, an evidence-based digital solution offered through employers, health plans, and providers to expand access, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes.

Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 26 million covered lives through Calm Health.

Brian leads solutioning to address some of the toughest challenges in behavioral health.

Brian and Seth discuss:

• Career Paths Are Not Linear: Both Brian and Seth highlight the importance - and inevitability - of nontraditional career journeys in health and wellness leadership.
• Cost and Access as Top Challenges: Controlling costs while increasing access to mental and behavioral health care remains a leading concern for employers and health plans.
• Digital Content as a Scalable Solution: For roughly 75% of a given population, high-quality digital content can be a first line of support, offering tools for episodic needs and keeping people out of higher-acuity care.
• Data-Driven Personalization: Calm Health leverages PHQ and GAD scores to curate programs tailored to each user’s unique needs, including specialized tracks for those with chronic conditions like diabetes.
• Clinical Expertise Meets Engaging Delivery: Calm collaborates with top psychologists to create evidence-based programs, then crafts them into highly engaging audio-visual experiences featuring trusted voices.
• Proof of Outcomes: A recent payer-led study of 70,000 users showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores - demonstrating that digital tools can make a real impact.
• Health Literacy = Access + Navigation: True health literacy goes beyond reading level - it includes providing clear pathways and referrals to the right care, tailored to each user’s situation and acuity.
• Supporting the Full Continuum: Calm Health’s offerings help users at every point in the journey, from “green” users needing only light support to those who require referral to therapy or crisis services.
• Cautious Approach to AI: While Calm Health utilizes AI to help users articulate their goals, they are conservative about using AI for actual clinical care - mindful of both ethical concerns and payer requirements.

Brian closes with a reminder of the human side of mental health - urging listeners to check in, offer a smile, and truly see one another, as small moments of connection can be transformative.

Discover how digital innovation and compassionate leadership are reshaping mental health support in the workplace - one small step, and one smile, at a time.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

Get Seth's Book

Check out The Wellbeing Effect by Seth Serxner.