Some statistics that may paint a troubling picture of the mental health crisis that we face today: 

• An estimated one in five U.S. adults has a mental illness.
• About 60% of these individuals do not receive mental healthcare.
• Suicide rates rose 33% in the U.S. between 2000 and 2019. 

Yet despite these statistics, promising progress is being made to improve access to mental health support, break down stigmas, and reduce barriers to care – and community health plans are playing a major role.

As a society, we are beginning to reduce the stigma associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. We are also making progress in improving outcomes and reducing the cost of mental healthcare. And, we are instituting layered approaches to mental healthcare by embracing mental health coaches, virtual treatment, and other pathways to make care more available and more affordable. 

In a recent webinar, “Unlocking Improved Outcomes: Addressing Engagement Barriers in Mental Healthcare,” the Alliance of Community Health Plans, along with speakers from Headspace and Intermountain Health, explored the barriers to accessing mental healthcare and, more importantly, how we can break them down. Intermountain Health, a leading not-for-profit health system, is known for its innovative approach to healthcare delivery, focusing on improving patient outcomes and expanding access to care.

Strategies for reducing stigma and increasing access to care

"One of the few silver linings of COVID was the decrease in stigma, making people more willing to seek care and support," said Tammer Attallah, Executive Clinical Director, Behavioral Health Clinical Program, Intermountain Health. “But now we face the challenge of meeting the overwhelming demand for care. It’s not just about access, but about offering accessible, effective care.”

In addition to reducing stigma, community health plans must focus on creating culturally responsive care that resonates with diverse member populations. Providers who understand the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities can offer more effective support, which is critical for increasing access and engagement among these groups.

Jenna Glover, Chief Clinical Officer, Headspace also stressed the importance of family involvement in care, highlighting Headspace's approach to addressing mental health within family systems. “We take a whole family approach because one of the biggest predictors of youth mental health is whether a parent has untreated mental illness,” she said. 

Community health plans’ role in addressing mental healthcare gaps  

Community health plans play a critical role in ensuring that members receive the care they need by focusing on expanding access and improving outcomes. “Employers and members are becoming more aware of mental health needs, but finding accessible and quality care remains incredibly difficult,” Attallah said.

Intermountain Health, Headspace, and other organizations are leading the way to find ways to make mental healthcare more accessible. By addressing not only the supply of mental health professionals but also finding innovative ways to provide care—whether through digital solutions, layered models that also involve subclinical care, or partnerships—community health plans can tackle these barriers head-on.

One of the key solutions is the concept of layered care, which provides members with different levels of support based on their needs. This approach makes mental healthcare more accessible by allowing individuals to access subclinical care — like mental health coaching — and progressing to therapy or psychiatric care if needed.

“We cannot outgrow this crisis—we have to innovate through it by expanding the mental health workforce through coaches and using tools like psychoeducational content to reach more people,” Dr. Glover said.

By offering members a variety of engagement points—whether they need content on sleep, stress reduction, mindfulness, or meditation — community health plans can significantly improve member engagement and satisfaction.

The role of digital solutions in modern mental healthcare

Digital health solutions are becoming essential tools in the modern mental healthcare landscape. These platforms allow for 24/7 access to coaching, therapy, and content, ensuring that members can receive support when and where they need it.

Dr. Glover points out, “Virtual platforms were able to open the doors and absorb those people from the start. Infrastructure is critical in being able to offer accessible care.” For rural or underserved communities, where mental health professionals may be in short supply, digital solutions reduce barriers to care by offering discreet and immediate access to services.

Community health plans have a critical role to play in addressing the mental healthcare crisis. By embracing innovative approaches, such as layered care; reducing stigma; offering culturally responsive services; and integrating digital solutions, these plans can improve access and engagement in mental healthcare. Together, these approaches provide the tools to develop a brighter picture of the future of mental healthcare in the United States. 

Learn more by watching the webinar on-demand here.

Interested in learning more about how Headspace can help improve mental healthcare for your members? Contact us here.

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