PEABODY — In a bold step toward increasing equitable access to mental and behavioral health care, Mayor Ted Bettencourt and other city leaders have partnered with BLOOM to provide every Peabody resident with free, stigma-free support when they need it most.
This initiative comes after the death of eighth grader Jason Bernard, who died by suicide due to bullying this past May.
BLOOM, a woman-owned business co-founded by CEO Joanne Mercaldi, is no stranger to Peabody. Many may remember Mercaldi through her former eldercare business, TLC @ Home.
Today, she is bringing that same passion for care and community to launch BLOOM citywide — ensuring every resident has access to the best mental health and well-being resources they truly need and deserve.
“We’re able to provide every resident of the City of Peabody with access to therapy, and that is instant access, increasing the gap of equitable services throughout the city,” Mercaldi said. “It’s a really special task, I think, that we’ve been assigned with through the mayor.”
BLOOM offers much more than just instant access to free therapy, though. BLOOM collaborates with more than 350 leading experts across health and wellness, sharing trusted resources from organizations such as McLean Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Chopra Global and many more.
Mercaldi said after she sold TLC @ Home, “I was like, ‘I’m not done. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I feel like I have not fulfilled my purpose yet.’
“Then we started building BLOOM, and I just started seeing what was coming out, and we have over 350 experts and organizations that joined our mission … to support kids and families, individuals, seniors. It’s just really cool to see how all of these people come together when the mission is pure.”
BLOOM offers comprehensive support in three key areas:
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Parenting and Eldercare
- Personal Well-being
All resources are available in a single, easy-to-use app.
Via the BLOOM app, Peabody residents have access to:
- Free therapy via BetterHelp: one month of confidential online therapy (ages 13+)
- Psychiatry access across all ages: in-network coverage for children, families, adults and seniors through major providers, including Point32 Health, Optum (Oscar, United, Oxford), Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Quest Behavioral Health, Cigna, Aetna, MassHealth and Medicare
- One-on-one mental health navigation and care coordination
- Substance use and recovery support
- Parenting, eldercare, financial and wellness resources
- Live group coaching and expert workshops
- On-demand tools, health challenges and community support
- Monthly newsletter: regular updates for residents and students, featuring upcoming events and actionable, stigma-free resources from top experts
“The BLOOM app is a terrific tool to help families connect with needed services and providers,” Bettencourt said. “This is an important resource for our community as we continue to try and provide hope and support for our young students and their families.”
Mercaldi added, “Having the mayor really initiate this solution I think is truly special because rarely do we see a mayor get involved and say ‘I’m going to pay for this myself for my residents through a budget.’
“It was really heartfelt to see a mayor take it so personally and kind of really step in and get involved with the community as deep as he has been to put the solution in place himself.”
Peabody residents can activate their free BLOOM account today by visiting bit.ly/cityofpeabody. Once the account has been created, Peabody residents should RSVP to attend a virtual New Member Orientation session. The next two sessions are Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 9 a.m. and Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.
“Think of BLOOM as your one place for support when life gets stressful, busy or overwhelming,” Mercaldi said. “It’s simple, free and here for you and your family.”
