Seeking structural change

As we begin to reopen the country, one critical area where we must retain focus is how the COVID-19 pandemic made it even harder for some people to gain access to mental health services. We have seen how people of color, people in rural communities, and people from a lower socioeconomic status have found it especially difficult to access care.

APA is focused on this critical health equity issue, and I plan to continue to shine a light on it throughout my presidential year.

One way of addressing this problem is through a population health approach, with the goal of improving the health of our entire nation. That means embedding mental health care in the places people go and making sure it is affordable in order to have a more equitable system.

Expanding mental health services, including through telehealth, is helping to improve access, but there remains the challenge of paying for services. APA is leading advocacy efforts to improve reimbursement rates and finding alternative models of reimbursement to make sure everyone who needs care can afford it. Once that happens, we can begin to have a more equitable health care system.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have been experiencing unprecedented levels of stress. APA’s most recent Stress in America survey found that 84% of adults reported feeling at least one negative emotion associated with prolonged stress, including increased feelings of anxiety, sadness, and anger. These changes in individuals’ emotional states are understandable given the challenges we have experienced over the past year, including loss of family members and friends and financial challenges.

APA and other organizations committed to reducing mental health stigma, such as Silence the Shame, have done an excellent job in encouraging people to seek services as well as normalizing appropriate care.

Now we must continue our advocacy for payment models that can help people who do not have insurance or the financial resources to afford services. The current financial structure disincentivizes clinicians to work with lower- and middle-income people, as well as people of color. If we are to truly have equitable health care, then the financial structures will need to change. APA must position itself to lead a necessary change to make it easier for those in need of services to get the care they need.