Behavioral Health Matters: A New Series from Real World Health Care
Millions of Americans are affected by mental and behavioral health conditions. From depression and anxiety to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, psychosis, and schizophrenia, mental health conditions are far more common than many people think.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shares some sobering statistics:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
- 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14
Are Americans Getting the Behavioral Health Care They Need?
NAMI notes that while taking the first steps toward mental health treatment – therapy, medication, self-care – can be confusing or difficult, it is important to explore options. Americans agree. A recent Gallup poll found that 7 in 10 Americans prefer that a health care provider ask about both their physical and mental health care concerns during medical appointments. However, nearly a third of Americans say this type of interaction has never happened with their primary care physician. Half (51%) of those polled by Gallup went on to say that it is “very important” for primary care providers to screen patients for anxiety and depression.
Unfortunately, having mental health discussions with a primary care provider, or taking part in screeners, doesn’t always guarantee that someone with a mental or behavioral health condition will receive the appropriate treatment. Consider these additional statistics shared by NAMI, which underscore the gaps between diagnosis and treatment:
- 2% of U.S. adults with mental illness receive treatment (2021)
- 4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness receive treatment (2021)
- 6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder receive treatment (2016)
- The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years
- 160 million people live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area
Breaking Down Barriers to Behavioral Health Care
This year, Real World Health Care will share insights about the importance of mental and behavioral health care for adults and children, with a special focus on underserved and vulnerable communities. We’ll speak with national non-profit organizations, clinicians, social workers, and other thought leaders to uncover some of the most pressing barriers facing patients and their families – and how those barriers are being addressed and overcome.
The HealthWell Foundation, publisher of Real World Health Care, understands the significant barriers to starting and maintaining behavioral and mental health treatment. One of the biggest barriers is cost: Even with insurance, many Americans can’t afford the copays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses for essential treatments and medications. That is why HealthWell is proud to offer several behavioral health funds to help patients in need:
- Cancer-Related Behavioral Health Fund: provides up to $2,000 in financial assistance to help cover prescriptions, counseling services, psychotherapy, and transportation costs relating to behavioral health services.
- Emergency/Medical Workers Behavioral Health Fund: provides up to $2,000 in financial assistance to help with the cost of prescription drugs, counseling services, cognitive behavioral therapy, and transportation needed to treat or manage behavioral health issues affecting emergency and medical workers.
- Neurocognitive Disease with Psychosis – Medicare Access Fund: provides up to $10,000 in assistance to help Medicare beneficiaries cover copays and Medicare Part B premiums for the treatment of psychosis in patients previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Diffuse Lewy Body Disease, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Huntington’s Disease, Prion/Creutzfeldt-Jackob Disease, or Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Oncology Caregiver Behavioral Health Fund: provides up to $2,000 in copay assistance for prescription drugs, counseling services, psychotherapy, and transportation costs needed to treat or manage behavioral health issues for a family member providing care to a cancer patient with an active HealthWell grant.
- Schizophrenia – Medicare Access: provides up to $4,000 in assistance to help Medicare patients cover copays and Medicare Part B premiums for prescription drugs and biologics used in the treatment of Schizophrenia.
“Providing financial resources that allow people to access and remain on prescribed behavioral health treatments is a huge step forward in helping them to manage their disease,” said Mike Heimall, President & CEO, HealthWell Foundation. “We are committed to assisting patients with mental and behavioral health conditions so they can focus more fully on their treatment and recovery.”
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***If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please call 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.***
