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Categories BHARC Tags Behavioral Health, BHARC, Health, Information Technology, Mental Health, News, Telehealth, Thought Leadership

Learning to Walk: Telehealth’s Development Signals Improved Behavioral Health Care Access

Learning to Walk: Telehealth’s Development Signals Improved Behavioral Health Care Access

June 15th, 2022 (Lanham, MD) More adults and youth are struggling with their mental health and well-being as the pandemic continues. Nearly four in ten American adults experienced anxiety or depression symptoms during the pandemic, compared to one in ten pre-pandemic (Panchal et al. 2021). Similarly, depression and anxiety among youth have nearly doubled since the pandemic and are particularly impacting youth from historically underserved populations (Office of the Surgeon General, 2021; Racine et al, 2021). Yet, access to mental health services and treatment has not kept pace with

the increased need and demand for services. In 2021, nearly 25 percent of adults did not receive treatment for mental illnesses (Mental Health America, 2021).

Telehealth is a growing sector of service delivery that is poised to address some of the gaps and barriers to mental health care. The June 2022 Behavioral Health Spotlight, published by the Behavioral Health Advancement Resource Center (BHARC), discusses tele-behavioral health’s significant expansion during the pandemic, its benefits, and important considerations for its utilization moving forward. “It is still early, but tele-behavioral health shows great promise in reducing stigma that some associate with mental health and substance disorder treatment and providing accessible mental health care capacity in hard to serve areas of the U.S.,” said William Scarbrough, BHARC Advisor and Vice President, Health Solutions at The Bizzell Group (Bizzell). “Additional rigorous evaluation is needed to address concerns regarding quality of care, privacy, and third-party data and information sharing.” BHARC is funded by Bizzell.

The BHARC Behavioral Health Spotlight is a thought leadership series highlighting various behavioral health topics that impact communities across the United States and abroad. “Telehealth’s Potential for Expanding Behavioral Healthcare Access” was written by Nancy Bateman, MSW, a Senior Public Health Advisor for Behavioral Health Services at Bizzell. It provides a current snapshot of tele-behavioral health, drawing from recent literature.

About BHARC 
The Behavioral Health Advancement Resource Center (BHARC) is an authoritative source for behavioral health information, insights, technical assistance, training, and innovative tools. BHARC is a mechanism to share evidence-based behavioral health interventions and best practices. The BHARC Advisory Council consists of experts in substance use, mental health, clinical trials, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare standards and quality.

About Bizzell 
The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a strategy, consulting, and technology firm that designs innovative solutions to help build healthy, secure, and sustainable communities in our nation and around the world. Bizzell leverages the combined experience of our diverse subject matter experts to develop data-driven, research-informed answers to the world’s most complex challenges—ensuring our clients achieve their vision and goals. For more information, visit: The Bizzell Group.

Categories BHARC, Insights Tags CEO Insights, COVID-19, Health, HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Minority Health, Special Populations

Easing the Mental Toll of HIV and AIDS

Easing the Mental Toll of HIV and AIDS

Epidemics and pandemics. HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. National and global issues affecting people around the world and highlighting health inequities that impact access to health and mental health care. During the physical and mental health stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions are also living with the ongoing effects of HIV/AIDS. “Since the global epidemic began, an estimated 79.3 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and 36.3 million people have died of HIV-related illnesses,” said Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., President/CEO of The Bizzell Group.

Individuals living with HIV/AIDS often experience discrimination, stigma, persecution, isolation, and exclusion, which can lead to depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other negative mental health effects. There is proven benefit from mental health groups, HIV/AIDS support groups, talk therapy, physical exercise, and meditation.

Several effective vaccines were developed within the first year of the emergence of COVID-19, yet forty years after it was first identified there is still no vaccine for HIV/AIDS. Although there are still healthcare inequities, through the efforts from UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), several U.S. government agencies (including U.S. Department of State) millions have received people-centered physical and mental health HIV services in over 55 countries. HIV/AIDS remains a public health and mental health crisis. While there is significant research, education, training, and technical assistance taking place, there is much more to do in the U.S. and around the world. Everyone needs to contribute to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Read more: Easing the Mental Toll of HIV-AIDS

Categories BHARC, Insights Tags Behavioral Health, CEO Insights, COVID-19, Gratitude, Mental Health

Do Not Wait for a Holiday to Express Gratitude

Do Not Wait for a Holiday to Express Gratitude

Gratitude is a “trending notion” right now, but do people really know what it means to show, express, feel and embrace gratitude. Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation, gratefulness, or thankfulness for someone or something.  Whether it is trending or not, data shows that expressing gratitude or living a life in a grateful way has social, physical, and psychological benefits.  Believe it or not, gratitude helps you feel better, sleep better, and can even strengthen your relationships.  And it is a skill that can be developed with practice. Learning how to express gratitude can be as simple as saying please and thank you, writing thank you notes, listing your blessings, and sharing what you are thankful for with others.

Holiday seasons, anniversaries, and other momentous occasions, can stir up a lot of emotions including joy and sorrow, togetherness, and isolation. Choosing a grateful spirit and approaching life with a feeling of appreciation can lead to feelings of joy and togetherness instead of sorrow and isolation.  Now is a great time to start creating a gratitude practice so you can experience the benefits such as an improved outlook on life, reduced depression and anxiety, better physical health, and the ability to weather the storms of life such as this COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about gratitude and its positive impact on health in Do Not Wait for a Holiday to Express Gratitude

Categories BHARC, Insights Tags CEO Insights

Mental Health Should Be Everyone’s Priority

Mental Health Should Be Everyone’s Priority

Every year, one in 5 adults experience a mental illness in the United States1. Mental illnesses can have a wide range of effects on physical heath, relationships and school or job performance. Yet as a country we still struggle to acknowledge and address the importance of mental wellness. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) launch in 2019 of its Special Initiative for Mental Healtlh2019-2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health is an important step to call attention to and provide support for mental health issues and work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health globally.

In this Psychology Today article, Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, CEO of The Bizzell Group, offers suggestions on how businesses can support their employees’ mental health and strategies individuals can use for mental wellness, including taking a mental health day when you’re feeling mentally under the weather.

READ MORE: Every Day Should Be Mental Health Day

1Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/

 

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