I envision Utah as a model for other regions. A growing global mental health crisis.
Although many factors contribute to the rising prevalence of mental health conditions, the most pressing challenge for health care providers is ensuring that patients receive treatment. Here we need to adopt upstream strategies that create new avenues to access care and address one of the biggest barriers: cost. Through innovative and collaborative efforts, we can provide timely treatment opportunities to those who need it most.
Costs of delayed access to treatment
Delays in access to mental health care have serious implications not only for individuals, but also for their families and the economy as a whole.
While stigma and lack of insurance are often cited as barriers, one of the most pressing issues lies in the limits of insurance coverage itself. For example, Utah has highest rate Most employer-provided health insurance in the country 41% of adults still report experiencing anxiety or depression. This discrepancy stems from restrictive insurance policies that fail to provide adequate support.
Patients often face the requirement to exhaust traditional treatments before receiving more effective and personalized options. In our clinic, we often see cases where patients have to take four different medications before being approved. deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS). The latest medical literature recommends TMS Previously The treatment algorithm is usually after two trials of antidepressants. I specifically emphasize this treatment because Deep TMS has demonstrated clinical success in treatment. Treatment-resistant depression It is a highly individualized treatment and is best used in conjunction with therapy and medication. During this prolonged period of trial and error, there is also a significant risk that patients may mistakenly believe that there is no solution that will work for them and discontinue treatment.
Even with insurance, high out-of-pocket costs can make treatment less effective by causing patients to delay appointments or not take their medications. For some, financial burdens prevent them from receiving treatment, impacting not only themselves but their loved ones, creating a cycle of untreated mental health problems that span generations.
What often goes unnoticed is the financial cost of these delays. From 2017 to 2023, there was an unusual spike in the number of employees taking time off from work for mental health reasons. 300%highlights that limited access to care affects the broader workforce and economy beyond the individual.
Breaking down barriers to care
Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) are working tirelessly to close the gaps in mental health care as systemic change is underway. As the saying goes, “It takes a village.” In Utah,healing for heroes” is a nonprofit program that subsidizes medical costs for veterans, first responders, and their families while advocating for more patient-centered insurance policies. Change takes time, and for many patients, time is a luxury they cannot buy. Often, treatment is denied because the patient is not considered “sufficiently depressed” by insurance standards, but as I sit across from the patient, I realize that the patient is suffering to the point of suicidal thoughts. I can see.
While organizations like ours can provide a temporary solution, the ultimate goal is to remove these barriers completely. Achieving this requires significant changes in upstream thinking and insurance contract frameworks. Change takes time. Therefore, first aid is essential as we work toward a better future.
This new way of thinking starts with recognizing that the current medical model used by insurance companies is out of sync with the reality of mental health conditions. For example, depression is Main causes of failureHowever, it is often treated as a condition that can be managed in a few hospital visits.
Additionally, many people seeking mental health treatment have endured years of trauma or long-standing illness. Investing in early intervention for children and families can reduce the incidence of future mental health crises. Supporting school-based programs, family-focused initiatives, and poverty reduction measures can help address root causes and build lasting mental health resilience.
The path to better mental health care in Utah and beyond includes closing current gaps while striving for lasting change. By fostering collaboration, challenging outdated models, and investing in early intervention, we can create a system where timely, accessible, patient-centered care is the norm. The time to act is now.
Improving mental health care in Utah requires closing existing gaps through targeted action. I urge communities and policymakers to subsidize expensive treatment and strengthen and permanently support school-based mental health programs. Expanding access to telemedicine is also important to reach more people. Supporting local nonprofits that already serve underserved populations helps build a united front for change. These steps allow Utah to lead in making mental health care a right, not a privilege.
(Antenna Group) Dr. Alex Majeno is a psychiatrist at Meadowbrook Counseling and medical director at Whole Mind.
Dr. Alex Majeno, I’m a psychiatrist meadowbrook counseling and the Medical Director of Whole Mind.
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