Behavioral Health Experts Share Solutions to Pressing Behavioral Health Needs

Thu, Sep 28, 2023 - Comments (0) - Posted by The Center for Health Affairs

Ohio, like virtually the entire nation, is facing a significant crisis when it comes to behavioral healthcare. A report by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services found that nearly 2.4 million Ohioans live in communities that do not have enough behavioral health professionals. In September, The Center for Health Affairs convened local experts in behavioral health to discuss not just the challenges, but also some of the solutions.

Led by moderator Jeremy Fischbach, founder and chief executive officer of Happy the App, the panel included:

Dr. Julia Bruner, senior vice president for Behavioral Health & Correctional Medicine, The MetroHealth System
Pam Budak, LISW-S, executive director, Bluestone Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital
Dr. Aaron Ellington, director of ambulatory clinical programming, University Hospitals
Jonathan Lee, LICDC, founder and CEO, Signature Health
Dr. Rajalla E. Prewitt, Psychiatry, St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center

The diverse group of panelists brought their unique perspectives and insights to the discussion. Key takeaways from the conversation touched on:

Creative approaches, like solutions-focused brief therapy and using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to predict no-shows.
The need to reduce the financial burden of education in mental health to bring more into the field and to increase the diversity of mental health professionals.
The importance of integrating behavioral health and primary care.
The potential for telemedicine, when done well and with intentionality, to improve patient experience and decrease both disparities and provider burnout.

During the hourlong discussion, the panel also addressed such topics as improving the transition between inpatient and outpatient care, the aging population and corresponding need for geriatric behavioral health services, and the growing demand for child and adolescent mental health services.

The conversation took place as part of The Center for Health Affairs’ Engage: A Solutions-Driven Executive Roundtable Series, which has included events on cybersecurity and workforce. To view the behavioral health discussion in its entirety, including questions and answers with the audience, click here.

And save the date for the next event in The Center’s series – the Innovation Showcase! The showcase will take place Nov. 15, 7-10 a.m. in downtown Cleveland and will feature healthcare innovators from right here in our community. If you would like your organization to be considered as one of the featured innovators, submit an application by Oct. 13.