By Jessica Kent, HealthITAnalytics, September 29, 2020
Across the country today, it is widely acknowledged that access to mental healthcare is just as important as clinical care when it comes to overall wellness.
Mental health conditions are incredibly common in the US, impacting tens of millions of people each year, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH). However, estimates suggest that only half of people with these conditions receive treatment, mainly due to barriers like clinician shortages, fragmented care, and societal stigma.
For the many individuals suffering from anxiety and depression, these existing barriers – coupled with the current healthcare crisis – can significantly interfere with the ability to carry out life activities.
“The prevalence of mental health disorders – particularly depression and anxiety – is high. If anything, the prevalence of these conditions has only increased as a result of COVID-19. The need is greater than ever now,” Jun Ma, PhD, Beth and George Vitoux Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) department of medicine, told HealthITAnalytics.
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