Breaking Down Barriers in Mental Health

A recent survey about mental health found “an overwhelming majority of the public (90%) think there is a mental health crisis in the U.S. today.” Mental Health America (MHA) estimates approximately 20% of adults have a mental illness. More than half of adults surveyed said they or a family member had experienced a severe mental health crisis and with that direct experience, were also the most likely to say, “most people are not able to get the mental health services they need.”

In many states, access restrictions by insurance companies and Medicaid make it difficult for people with mental illness to access appropriate treatments. These restrictions, such as “prior authorization” or “step therapy protocols” are designed to control health plan costs, but ultimately may diminish access to necessary medications, resulting in significant human, economic, and social costs.