- Mental Health Care Challenges:
- Millions of US adults lack needed mental health care due to:
- Unequal access to providers
- An outdated, fragmented care system
- High out-of-pocket costs
- Millions of US adults lack needed mental health care due to:
- Consequences: Inadequate mental health care affects individuals, caregivers, governments, and economies.
- Vision for Improvement: A human-centered approach was developed through literature review, interviews, and workshops to improve the mental health ecosystem.
- Five Major Shifts Proposed:
- Expand Workforce: Increase mental health professionals, especially in underserved areas, through loan repayment and incentives.
- Transform Navigation: Improve the user experience with shared data systems, digital crisis support, and human-centered design in insurance coverage.
- Innovative Models: Promote integrated care models, mobile services, and community-based mental health services.
- Increase Coverage: Expand insurance coverage, especially Medicare and Medicaid, and incentivize providers to accept Medicaid.
- Reform Payment Systems: Simplify provider paperwork, support alternative payment models, and facilitate cross-state care provision.
- Collaborative Effort: Policymakers, health agencies, and providers must collaborate to create a coordinated, accessible, equitable, and non-stigmatizing mental health care system.
- Goal: Ensure every American has access to the mental health services needed to thrive through prevention, early intervention, and system improvements.
