What: Mental health services are being offered in national drugstore chains like CVS and Rite Aid.

Why it is important: Making mental health care available through retailers could reduce obstacles for those needing services.

CVS, the largest retail pharmacy in the United States, has added licensed clinical social workers trained in cognitive behavioral therapy to 13 locations in the Houston, Philadelphia, and Tampa metro areas since January. The providers will offer mental health assessments, referrals and counseling either in person or via telehealth.

The social workers are available during the day, and also on evenings and weekends in the company’s MinuteClinics, which provide a variety of nonemergency health care services either via walk-in or by appointment. The hours are more flexible than what therapists might normally offer, and the social workers partner with the clinic’s nurse practitioners and pharmacists to give prescriptions when needed.

CVS is not the only one investing in behavioral health treatment. Walmart has also announced its acquisition of MeMD, offering online medical and mental health care, which will be added to its Walmart Health services. Rite Aid is piloting teletherapy in the “virtual care rooms” of 13 stores in Idaho, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Virginia. And Walgreens is facilitating therapy appointments via the company’s web platform Walgreens Find Care, which connects customers to teletherapy from BetterHelp or Sanvello. Walgreens also offers free access to online mental health screenings.

In the past year, the number of people reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression nearly quadrupled. It is important to remove obstacles to mental heath care by making providers more accessible.

Pharmacies Are Entering the Mental Health Market