It’s no secret that our country is in the midst of a mental health crisis, which was only furthered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many Americans are either experiencing a mental health illness or know someone who is. But our crisis doesn’t stop there; the majority also aren’t happy with the current behavioral health options in the United States. According to a poll conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Ipsos, 75% of Americans say they aren’t content with the state of mental health treatment in the country.
Fortunately, politicians on both sides of the aisle have taken notice and are showing support to improve behavioral health. On July 16, 988 became the new three-digit hotline for behavioral health—akin to 911—with support for increased funding. However, we also know that these types of changes are often slow-moving and can leave important groups of people out of the equation.
The issue of behavioral health access in marginalized communities is not a problem that can be solved overnight or with a one-size-fits-all solution. However, technology can help bridge some of these gaps, and it can do so when we need it most — now.
For example, technology offering a real-time snapshot of open treatment beds and providers can break down care barriers by helping patients and their loved ones gain access to care at the local level. For payers and providers, real-time patient admission, discharge, and transfer data can ensure they are aware of exactly where a patient is on their care journey. Further, technology can offer opportunities for our communities to begin addressing social determinants of health. For example, by providing proper education via publicly accessible technology, our communities can better understand the free resources available to them, like crisis centers or government programs or preventive health services covered by the Affordable Care Act. Through technology, we can also begin to educate our communities about the importance of behavioral health and how symptoms of common mental health issues often present themselves.
Read more at Forbes.com.
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