CuraLinc Healthcare Peer-Reviewed Study Reveals $5.39:1 ROI
New research confirms measurable financial return—and deeper human impact—for employers investing in mental health
CuraLinc Healthcare today announced the publication of a new peer-reviewed study that demonstrates a $5.39:1 average return on investment (ROI) for its employee assistance (EAP) and mental health programs.
The study—developed with behavioral health researcher Dr. Mark Attridge and published in the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications—is the largest of its kind, analyzing data from over 166,000 cases.
As employers navigate rising benefit costs and growing pressure to demonstrate impact, CuraLinc’s ROI model offers a new level of transparency, credibility, and accountability.
“Employers want to deliver better care and be good stewards of their investment,” said CuraLinc CEO Derek Newell. “This study shows they don’t have to choose between the two.”
The ROI behind real recovery
CuraLinc’s peer-reviewed ROI study breaks down a $5.39:1 return across three distinct value drivers:
$3.24:1 from healthcare cost savings – including avoided outpatient mental health claims and reduced need for future treatment when employees recover from depression, anxiety, or alcohol use risk
$2.01:1 from human capital cost savings – including restored productivity from reductions in absenteeism and presenteeism, plus avoided turnover costs
$0.13:1 from organizational support services – such as training, manager consultations, and crisis response that reduce risk and drive program engagement
These financial outcomes are backed by strong clinical results:
79% of participants at risk for depression or anxiety recovered to no longer be at risk
67% of participants at risk for hazardous alcohol use recovered to no longer be at risk
61% of participants with high lost productivity recovered, reducing lost work hours from presenteeism and absenteeism from 57.3 to 16.4 hours/month on average
99.5% of participants resolved their concerns within the EAP, avoiding higher-cost care in the medical benefit
“Behind every data point in this study is a person who found support in a moment that mattered. Someone who got better, stayed at work, or felt seen by a leader who knew how to help,” said David Pawlowski, LCPC, CEAP, CuraLinc’s Chief Operating Officer and co-author of the study. “The ROI is compelling, but it reflects something deeper: what happens when the right care shows up at the right time.”
Practical tools for employers
The study was designed to balance scientific integrity with practical application for employers.
“This framework reflects more than two decades of applied research in the EAP industry,” said Dr. Mark Attridge. “It uses validated outcome measures collected pre- and post-use, large real-world data sets, and conservative assumptions to demonstrate how programs like CuraLinc’s deliver measurable recovery from clinical and work-related problems and meaningful ROI without inflating the numbers.”
To help organizations translate these findings into action, CuraLinc is launching a suite of ROI case studies and reporting tools, including:
Industry-specific case studies: See how ROI varies across clients in different industries like healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing
Enhanced client ROI reporting: The new model will deliver even more tailored insights based on unique workforce characteristics and utilization
Technical ROI guide: A detailed breakdown of assumptions, inputs, and model methodology
While an interactive calculator is planned for future release, employers can visit curalinc.com/roi to explore real-world outcomes and request a custom ROI profile built on the same data-driven framework validated in the study.
About CuraLinc Healthcare
CuraLinc provides transformative mental health care fueled by connectivity—marrying technology and personalized advocacy to support employees, families and students through programs that have a measurable impact on their health, wellbeing and productivity. For more information, please visit curalinc.com.