Closing the Gap: Improving Behavioral Health Access Across Communities

To effectively address the nearly 51 million individuals experiencing mental illness annually, health systems must first address a primary determinant of care: location.^* Rural and urban communities each face their own set of obstacles that hinder the delivery of vital behavioral health services, making it critical for hospitals to adjust their care approaches.

Read more to discover the unique challenges of these environments and how hospitals can leverage specialized partnerships to expand access and improve community health.

Challenges within Rural Communities

Approximately 20% of the U.S. population resides in nonmetropolitan or rural areas, where roughly 6.7 million individuals live with a mental illness. While the need is universal, the distribution of resources is not.^*

Current data shows that 65% of rural communities lack a practicing psychiatrist, and over 60% of residents in these areas live in designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.^* Additional barriers faced by this community include:

• Socioeconomic factors such as higher unemployment and poverty rates
• Negative stigma around receiving behavioral health care, often due to lower health literacy regarding the benefits of early intervention
• Clinical acuity caused by delayed diagnosis and overall access to care

Steps to Improve Regional Access

To bridge these gaps, hospitals are adopting integrated models that move beyond traditional brick-and-mortar solutions, including:

1. Implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs) to support clinical integration and communication
2. Continued integration of educational resources and programs to help emphasize the importance of behavioral health treatment to further combat the negative stigma
3. Expanded use of technology, such as telehealth, to provide psychiatric support and other crucial treatment options
4. Aid from an experienced partner dedicated to providing high-quality, tailored behavioral healthcare to benefit a community’s specific needs

Urban Community Obstacles

Urban communities experience a different set of challenges: proximity to care does not always guarantee access. With nearly 70% of the global population expected to live in cities by 2050, urban mental health needs are skyrocketing. Studies show that city living is associated with a 21% increase in anxiety disorders and a 39% increase in mood disorders.^*

Key urban challenges include:

• Overcrowded emergency departments (EDs), leading to “over boarding” and strained hospital resources and staff
• Rise in social determinant risk factors, including homelessness and social alienation
• Greater social disorder in high-poverty neighborhoods, further increasing mental health risks and creating "care deserts" within the city

Urban Area Opportunities

Hospitals can optimize urban behavioral health delivery by:

• Understanding neighborhood demographics by identifying and prioritizing underserved pockets within the city to co-locate services
• Providing quality resources through the hiring of qualified psychologists and navigators to reduce ED overcrowding and lower readmission rates
• Increasing behavioral health education and integration by embedding it into existing settings, such as primary care, to reach a broader community base

By understanding the unique obstacles presented in both communities, hospitals can identify proven strategies to meet the opportunity. However, hospitals today struggle to successfully integrate a behavioral health service line independently due to the specialization and resources required – leading many to outsource to a trusted partner.

The Advantage of Behavioral Health Partnership

The specialized support of an industry expert is often the catalyst for success in both community types. Experts provide flexible strategies, trained clinical staff and national resource databases required to run a high-performing behavioral health service line without the administrative burden.

Contact us to learn how Lifepoint Behavioral Health can help your hospital successfully integrate or optimize your program to meet the unique needs of your community.