Increasing Access to Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health Services
Survey Background
Mental health is an essential component for healthy adolescent development. When young people have good mental health - and the supports they need to foster healthy relationships and social connections- they are better equipped to thrive in both adolescence and adulthood. Much attention is being paid to the increases in mental and behavioral health conditions among adolescents, and we know that children and teens that have access to early intervention, treatment, and resources are more likely to be able to successfully navigate these challenges.
To inform emerging strategies and immediate funding priorities within our Access to Care focus area, we are seeking insights to help develop better understanding of near-term opportunities to increase access to mental and behavioral health services for adolescents and their caregivers. Specifically, we are looking for input in identifying approaches with the potential to have an impact in the next one to three years and that will be effective despite persistent workforce shortages of certain provider types in the behavioral health field. This could include approaches that:
·Improve the ability to detect and respond to adolescent mental health issues through innovative, promising, or nontraditional workforce models.
Provide behavioral health supports that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families using workforce approaches that can be developed in the timeframe of 1-3 years.
Bolster connections or increase access to care through the existing behavioral health workforce.
While all ideas and opportunities are welcome, we are specifically interested in learning about approaches or models that have high potential impact in communities where behavioral workforce shortages are most acute.
If you have questions or would like to speak to us about this request, please contact Kiydra Harris at kiydra.harris@bcbsncfoundation.org.
