The mental health crisis in the United States is a topic of urgent concern. This article provides a comprehensive overview of President Biden’s 2023 Mental Health Initiatives plan, announced on May 11 of this year, to expand access to mental health care.
Background on the mental health crisis in the United States
The United States is currently wrestling with a significant mental health crisis. According to Mental Health America, two in five American adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2021. The ongoing crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, social media, and gun violence, among other factors. This crisis has prompted the Biden-Harris administration to take decisive action to improve mental health care access and services.
Overview of President Biden’s 2023 Mental Health Initiatives
President Biden’s plan is a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming how mental health is accessed, understood, treated, and integrated into surrounding healthcare settings.
Strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity
The plan includes several key actions to strengthen the mental health workforce and system capacity:
- Increasing the size and diversity of the behavioral health workforce: The Department of Education has awarded more than $280 million in funding to bolster the pipeline of mental health professionals serving in schools and expand school-based mental health services and supports.
- Expanding access to peer support: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will release the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification to improve consistency across peer certifications and promote the quality of the growing number of peer workers across the nation.
- Enhancing crisis response: SAMHSA announced the availability of more than $200 million for states, territories, call centers, and Tribal organizations to continue strengthening 988 operations.
- Expanding proven models of care: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded 15 one-year state planning grants to help states develop the necessary capacity to compete in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration.
Connecting more Americans to care
The Biden-Harris administration is also taking new actions to connect more Americans to care:
- Making it easier to find help: HHS launched FindSupport.Gov, a new online resource for all Americans to learn how to get support for mental health, drug, and alcohol issues.
- Providing mental health services in schools: CMS released an updated Medicaid School Claiming and Administrative Guide, and ED released a proposed rule that would revise processes on Medicaid billing under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
- Supporting workers’ mental health: The Department of Labor (DOL) launched a Mental Health at Work Initiative to promote critical resources supporting employees and employers.
- Reducing stigma for service members and veterans: The Department of Defense (DoD) issued a new policy that makes it easier for Service members to seek support by self-initiating a referral for a mental health evaluation through a commanding officer or supervisor.
- Delivering mental health services to caregivers: VA launched a pilot program that aims to provide mental health services to caregivers enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
- Reducing disparities in maternal mental health: HRSA will announce awards for over $65 million to 25 HRSA-funded health centers to implement innovative approaches to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities for women from underserved backgrounds.
- Promoting behavioral health equity: SAMHSA launched a Behavioral Health Equity Challenge, which will provide up to ten awards to community-based organizations for innovative outreach and engagement strategies.
Creating healthy and supportive environments
The Biden-Harris Administration is also taking new actions to create healthy and supportive environments:
- Improving youth resilience: HHS announced the new Children and Youth Resilience Prize Challenge, which will award $1 million to innovative community-led solutions to promote resilience in children and adolescents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters.
- Promoting the importance of social connection: The U.S. Surgeon General released a new Advisory on Addressing Loneliness and Promoting Social Connection. CDC also launched a new website for adults, providing vital suggestions on combatting loneliness by improving social connectedness.
- Investing in early childhood mental health: SAMHSA will award $9.7 million in grants through the infant and early childhood mental health program to improve outcomes for children from birth to 12 years of age via improved interventions and treatment services.
- Improving suicide prevention efforts: The Indian Health Service (IHS) will implement a system-wide suicide prevention training for all staff to increase recognition and response to suicide within American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
- Launching public call-to-action to support research: The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy called on non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, academic institutions, companies, and other research funders to share their actions and collaborations to help advance national mental health research priorities.
- Improving employee wellness: The Administration’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will release an Employee Wellness Program Guidance for agencies on best practices for providing wellness services to federal employees.
- Expanding access to recovery: SAMHSA will announce $5.4 million in grant awards for building communities of recovery to support the mobilization and connection of community-based resources to increase access to and quality of long-term recovery support for people with co-occurring substance misuse, substance use disorders, and mental health disorders.
For a visual representation of the mental health crisis in the United States and the Biden-Harris administration’s response, refer to the infographic below illustrating the prevalence of mental illness among American adults.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
Common Questions Regarding Mental Health in the U.S.
Q: What is the federal government doing about mental health?
A: The federal government, under the Biden-Harris administration, has launched a comprehensive strategy to transform how mental health is understood, accessed, treated, and integrated into and out of healthcare settings. This includes strengthening the mental health workforce, linking more Americans to care, and creating healthy and supportive environments. For more details, refer to Biden’s plan’s official announcement.
Q: What is the current state of mental health in the United States?
A: As mentioned earlier in the article, The United States is currently contending with a significant mental health crisis. According to Mental Health America, two in five American adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2021. The crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, social media, and gun violence, among other factors.
Q: What should the government do to improve access to mental health care in the United States?
A: The government should continue to invest in mental health services, reduce the stigma associated with mental health, and ensure that mental health care is accessible and affordable for all Americans. This includes expanding the mental health workforce, improving crisis response, and making it easier for individuals to find help. For more information on the current state of mental health in America, you can visit the National Institute of Mental Health.
Q: Is the United States facing a mental health crisis?
A: Yes, the United States is facing a significant mental health crisis. High rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders among adults and youth characterize this crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic and other societal factors have exacerbated the problem. For a visual representation of the mental health crisis in the United States and the Biden-Harris administration’s response, refer to this infographic from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Summary of President Biden’s 2023 Mental Health Initiatives
The government is taking significant steps to address the mental health crisis, including investing in mental health services, reducing stigma, and ensuring that mental health care is accessible and affordable for all Americans. This article provided a comprehensive overview of President Biden’s 2023 Mental Health initiatives to expand access to mental health care in the United States. The plan includes strengthening the mental health workforce, connecting more Americans to essential care, and creating healthy and supportive environments.
Final thoughts and future implications
The mental health crisis in the United States is a complex, multi-faceted issue requiring a comprehensive approach. The Biden-Harris administration’s plan represents a significant step forward in addressing this crisis. However, continued efforts are needed to ensure all Americans have access to the mental health care they need. As we move forward, it will be essential to monitor the implementation of this plan and its impact on mental health outcomes in the United States. For a visual representation of the mental health crisis in the United States and the Biden-Harris administration’s response, refer to this infographic from the National Institute of Mental Health.
Chances are, if you are reading this, then you or someone you care about is considering or in need of Mental Health Treatment and/or coaching. While many options exist, we worked hard to build a free comprehensive directory on our site for people like you to access. It’s non-committal, and you decide when you are ready to contact Mental Health facilities near you.
Sources:
United States: White House Convenes State and Local Leaders for a Mental Health and Well-Being Forum During Mental Health Awareness Month. (2023, May 11). MENA Report.
White House Hosts Health and Safety Townhall for Back-to-School | NEA.
