This May marks the 75th annual Mental Health Awareness Month. Established in 1949 by Mental Health America, this observance reminds us to focus individually and collectively on the key role of mental health and wellness in our lives.
According to a 2022 KFF/CNN poll, 90 percent of U.S. adults believe there is a mental health crisis, with the opioid epidemic, mental health issues among youth, and severe mental illness at the forefront. The long-term impact of the pandemic remains a major concern, with many adults worried about its negative effects on youth mental health. But despite a rise in behavioral health needs, service delivery has not kept pace; a 2022 national survey revealed that the close to 60 million adults who had any mental illness in the past year, almost half received no treatment. These sobering facts underscore the urgent need for enhanced support and resources and highlight the importance of promoting mental health.
This year’s theme, “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World,” emphasizes the need to address mental health in a rapidly changing landscape. Managing our mental health is critical for everyone because mental health and well-being affect everyone. As we embrace and promote Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial to reflect on the collective strides we’ve made and the challenges that still lie ahead.
Recently, I was privileged to attend and present at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing Annual Conference (NatCon24), the largest gathering of professionals from across mental health and substance use treatment, in St. Louis, Missouri. Through many engaging presentations and thought-provoking sessions, several of the most pressing issues emerged, which can help us decide where to start on our call to action.
- A key takeaway from the conference was the importance of further developing a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health crisis services. At the forefront of this continuum is the newly established 988, a lifeline for individuals in moments of acute distress and need. Since the launch of 988, close to 10 million calls, texts, and chats have been received/routed. Emphasizing the importance of building the behavioral health crisis continuum, an entire preconference summit focused on crisis response services. Other conference crisis continuum topics included maternal mental health support, collaboration between law enforcement and mental health professionals, community involvement in crisis response, crisis response with a focus on climate change, and the implementation of crisis continuum of care models in urban and rural communities. For more information on building the crisis continuum, check out this best practice toolkit from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
- As the need for behavioral health care grows, a glaring reality persists: the severe shortage of professionals in the behavioral health sector. Recent data paint a stark picture, with vast regions facing a deficit of trained clinicians. As of the end of 2023, about 169 million Americans live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. Other data from NatCon24 show that 57 percent of recent recipients of master’s degrees in clinical social work and mental health counseling do not pursue licensure, citing the costs of becoming licensed and inadequate pay as their biggest reasons. This finding points to the need for policy reforms and initiatives that lower the barriers to licensure so more professionals can enter and stay in the behavioral health workforce. Other conference workforce related topics included strategies for staff retention, embracing employee health and wellness, and how employee engagement can combat staff shortages.
- Amid the challenges we face during a mental health crisis is a chance for innovation and collaboration. The Innovation in Behavioral Health Model (IBH) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has emerged as a bright spot of opportunity. Announced in January 2024, the IBH Model seeks to bridge the gap between behavioral and physical health in an integrated way. Although the notice of funding opportunity has yet to be released, states and providers are already expressing interest in the model as evidenced by a packed session during the conference. Watch this space!
- Given the national emergency in child and adolescent mental health, an increasingly important topic is the provision of school-based health services—including primary, behavioral health, vision, and dental care—through partnerships between schools and community health organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Task Force on Community Preventive Services found that establishing school-based health centers (SBHCs) in low-income communities has been linked to strong positive outcomes. For a thorough resource guide on how community mental health and substance use care organizations can develop school-based partnerships and programs, check out this guide from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. SBHCs continue to be a promising area to address youth mental health needs. Mathematica is actively engaged in assisting state Medicaid agencies, state departments of education, and schools in building their capacity to expand access to Medicaid services.
As with most conferences, there were many informative sessions and interactive poster presentations, yet too little time to attend them all. NatCon24 provided an array of resources, connections, research, and direction on how and where to start addressing mental health in a rapidly changing landscape. For more information and resources on mental health and Mental Health Awareness Month, visit Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. To find treatment for mental and substance use disorders, visit FindTreatment.gov.
