Transforming Mental Health And Addiction Services

Even with great advances in behavioral health policy in the last decade, the problems of mental illness and addiction persist in the United States-so more needs to be done. In this article, which is part of the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative, we describe the steps needed to improve outcomes, focusing on three strategies. We argue for transforming the behavioral health system to meet people where they are, decriminalizing mental illness and substance use disorders to facilitate recovery, and raising awareness of social context and social needs as essential to effective care. We call for supporting structures in the workforce and structures of accountability, outcome measurement, and more generous financing of behavioral health care. These steps have costs, but the enormous benefits of a major transformation in behavioral health policy far outweigh the expenses.

Automated summary

Despite significant advances in behavioral health policy in the past decade, issues related to mental illness and substance abuse continue to persist in the United States. To improve outcomes, steps such as transforming the behavioral health system, decriminalizing mental illness and substance use disorders, and raising awareness of social context and needs are necessary. Supporting workforce structures, accountability, outcome measurement, and increasing financing of behavioral health care are crucial for achieving a major transformation in behavioral health policy.