United in Resilience During Challenging Times
Mental Health Awareness Month is an annual opportunity to reexamine and elevate the national conversation surrounding mental health. Currently, the behavioral health industry and mental health providers are facing an unprecedented threat. Amid historic defunding threats and overwhelming institutional alarm, behavioral health leaders must immediately unite and prioritize strategies to safeguard access to mental healthcare.
Recent industry reporting indicates 60 million adults suffered from mental illness; 45 million adults and 2.3 million young adults also experienced a substance use disorder, and 43% of adults felt more anxious than the year prior. These are our friends, our families, and our communities. In 1949, May was declared Mental Health Awareness Month to help kick-start vital conversations and connect people to the resources they need for treatment. Currently, 30% of adults who receive mental health services prefer telehealth to in-person appointments, signaling that the need for expanding virtual care.
Building Awareness and Encouraging Conversations
On average, there is a delay of 11 years between the onset of new mental health symptoms and starting treatment. During this time, symptoms can severely impact every aspect of a person’s life. As the behavioral health industry reels with the loss of $11 billion in funding and the gutting of vital institutions that help those struggling with mental health, this is the time to roll up our sleeves and stand our ground by prioritizing support for the communities most in need of care during these uncertain times.
The severe cuts could trigger massive treatment disruptions, close clinics, and widen the time between symptom onset and treatment. Such drastic threats to mental health services and addiction treatment are why we must unequivocally support the vital work done by clinicians and providers nationwide.
Providing accessible care to those in need is paramount. Behavioral health providers will always be at the front lines to give hope and renewed life to their patients, and our support for them cannot waver.
Advancing Compassionate Care
The behavioral health field is full of compassionate providers dedicated to serving their communities. No one wants to see a loved one struggle, and it’s the dedication and expertise of these providers that offer a pathway toward healing and well-being. Evidence-based care goes beyond treating immediate symptoms, and individuals who engage in appropriate care see further benefits, including:
- Reduced anxiety and/or depression
- Reduced thoughts of suicide
- Better management of mental illness
- Lowered substance abuse
- Improved quality of life
- Increased work performance
At Qualifacts, we recognize the profound impact care providers have on our communities and loved ones, and we have made it our mission to equip them with the support and technology they need to deliver exceptional care. This isn’t just our responsibility—it’s our honor.
