The mental health crisis in America

Scope, impact and solutions

The mental health crisis in America has reached a significant juncture, highlighted by stark mental health statistics revealing the widespread impact. 

Nearly 60 million Americans experienced some form of mental illness in 2024 , with conditions such as anxiety and depression seeing significant increases. In November 2024, the CDC reported  that between 2019 and 2022, the percentage of adults with anxiety symptoms increased from 15.6% to 18.2%, and the percentage with depression symptoms increased from 18.5% to 21.4%. 

The data highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the crisis; supporting the individuals affected, as well as their loved ones.
 

Root causes of mental health issues

Mental health issues can arise from a mix of genetic, environmental, and social factors. Environmental stressors, such as trauma, can also make individuals more likely to experience depression. The social drivers of health, such as income inequality and health equity, also play a role, as segments of the population facing socioeconomic challenges are more likely to experience mental health issues .

• Social drivers of health
  • Limiting individuals’ access to healthcare and support systems
  • Increasing income inequality
  • Causing health equity challenges in marginalized communities
  • Contributing to work-life imbalance
• Stigma – societal pressures preventing individuals from seeking help
• Environmental factors – trauma, chronic stress, social isolation
• Substance use disorders – substance use and addiction issues exacerbating mental health illnesses
  
  

Societal and economic impact of mental health challenges

Mental health challenges impact society by increasing healthcare costs and reducing workplace productivity due to absenteeism and disability. They can also strain social services and  contribute to individuals experiencing housing insecurity as well as substance use.

• Impact on families
  • Mental health issues can lead to increased family stress and caregiving burdens
  • Youth experiencing mental health challenges may also endure developmental issues
     
• Community well-being
  • Communities often feel the impact of individuals’ untreated mental health illnesses through their increased housing insecurity and lack of community engagement
  • A lack of mental health support often exacerbates these issues, creating cycles of disadvantage and struggle
     
• Education
  • Mental health challenges among students can lead to difficulties in learning, increased absenteeism, and higher dropout rates
  • Educators may need to allocate additional resources to support affected students, impacting overall educational outcomes
     
• Impact in the workplace
  • Companies may experience significant economic costs from lost productivity and healthcare expenses due to employees’ untreated mental health issues
  • Mental health conditions lead to absenteeism and decreased workplace efficiency
     
• Healthcare System Burden
  • Overwhelmed resources leading to long wait times and fragmented care
  • Public health systems strained by increasing demand for mental health services

Barriers to mental health treatment

Obstacles preventing individuals from receiving mental health treatment include stigma, oftentimes due to the lack of awareness and understanding of mental health issues, deterring individuals from seeking help. Limited access due to provider shortages or geographic constraints can also complicate treatment. Financial obstacles, such as high costs of care, can prevent patient access to care as well.
 

Stigma

Mental health stigma  refers to the negative attitudes and beliefs that lead to discrimination and social exclusion for those with mental health conditions. In terms of mental health crises, combating suicide stigma requires education, open dialogue, and inclusive policies to create supportive environments.
 

Accessibility

Accessibility can significantly impact individuals’ ability to receive timely mental health treatment. Geographic and transportation barriers can limit provider availability. Long wait times and a lack of culturally affirming providers can further restrict access. 
 

Cost of care

Cost of care can be a major barrier in mental health treatment, with high expenses for therapy, medications, and hospital stays often making treatment inaccessible. Individuals incurring costs due to missed work and travel can add further financial strain, leading many to delay or skip treatment, exacerbating their conditions.
 

Innovative solutions and treatments

Mental and behavioral health treatment trends include early detection and intervention, telebehavioral health, value-based care programs, and community-based initiatives; all designed to support mental health crisis treatment, including suicide prevention awareness and suicide prevention programs.
 

Early intervention and prevention

Primary care providers can help prevent mental health crises in their patients by implementing strategies to address early detection and intervention. Providers can also take preventative measures to mitigate the onset of patients’ mental health crises.
 

Telebehavioral health

Telebehavioral health (TBH) is the delivery of mental health services via telecommunications technology, such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging. TBH provides patients remote access to therapy, counseling, and psychiatric care, making treatment more convenient and accessible, especially for patients in remote areas or with mobility issues.

Value based programs

Value-based care (VBC) can provide patients improved health equity, and in turn, improved patient outcomes. VBC aims to incentivize care providers to improve patients' overall well-being rather than solely providing more services, which in turn improves the cost of care. 

Community based programs

Community-based programs support mental health, including communities affected by crisis, by offering patients local resources like counseling, support groups, and education. These programs help to reduce stigma, encourage early intervention, and reach underserved populations, fostering a supportive and culturally aware environment.
 

Case studies

Carelon Behavioral Health’s suicide prevention program details real-life experiences and success stories of individuals who have faced mental and behavioral health challenges, showcasing their journeys and the support systems that helped them overcome these obstacles.
 

The role of policy and legislation

Policy and legislation play a crucial role in shaping mental health care  by determining funding, access, quality, and the scope of services. They can influence the availability of mental health resources, establish standards for care, and ensure insurance coverage. Effective policies can increase patients’ access to services, promote early intervention, enforce parity between mental and physical health care, and protect patient rights. 
 

Carelon Behavioral Health’s solutions addressing the mental health crisis

Carelon Behavioral Health provides compassionate behavioral and mental health care focused on treating the patient’s whole health, utilizing customized solutions that help resolve reoccurring issues.

Launched in July 2022, Carelon’s crisis safety platform connects people experiencing a crisis with trained crisis representatives through an integrated technology solution. By tracking the caller’s journey, the system ensures that callers receive the right care at the most critical time, with the goal of helping to improve caller outcomes.

With just a call, text, or online chat, people can connect with a crisis specialist who will listen to and understand how a caller's problems are affecting them. The specialists provide the caller with support and resources. When needed, a mobile crisis response team or emergency service is quickly contacted and sent to the scene to ensure everyone’s safety.