Improving public policy for mental health crisis care

Emergencies in mental health do not wait for an appointment. They show up unannounced, frequently when individuals are least ready to manage them.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which just went live and is a crucial tool in our collective effort to help people in times of crisis, serves as a lifeline for many people in those critical moments.

However crucial as this help may be, it’s anything but an endpoint. It marks the beginning of a longer journey that will necessitate seamless integration between clinicians working in health care settings and public mental health crisis services.

Creating a bridge between crisis response and ongoing care Mental health crisis response and medical care organizations need to be well-coordinated and prepared to receive people in crisis, just as they do for stroke or heart attack victims.

As I featured in a new Kaiser Permanente Foundation for Wellbeing Strategy Discussion, the errand of coordinating emergency care with medical services requires joint effort among government elements, medical services clinicians, the public emergency reaction framework, and local area associations.

We at Kaiser Permanente are aware of the importance of working together, so we are putting in a lot of effort to improve crisis care for mental health and to better coordinate care between our organization and public-facing systems like 988.
We are coordinating follow-up appointments for members who call 988 or their local crisis line in close collaboration with state officials. Additionally, we are increasing the number of primary care behavioral health consultants. Each is a stage toward overcoming any barrier between prompt emergency reaction and continuous emotional well-being care, recognizing that one can’t work without the other.

Recommendations for improved crisis care in public policy The successful implementation of 988 demonstrates how policy can enhance integrated crisis care. By developing policies that improve our nation’s crisis care system, we have the chance to continue the momentum of 988. Kaiser Permanente offers support for the following:

Increasing accessibility to crisis services: In order for people in crisis to feel at ease asking for help, they need a variety of communication options. Policymakers ought to finance emergency call focuses so they can offer a full scope of correspondence decisions, including calls, texts, and visits.

Increasing residential crisis services: We have patients who require mental health crisis services and face lengthy wait times due to a lack of beds, just like many medical organizations. By increasing funding for residential crisis stabilization programs that provide short-term, nonhospital care, policymakers should ease the burden on emergency rooms all over the country, including Kaiser Permanente’s. People in crisis will receive timely and appropriate care thanks to this alternative to conventional ER visits.

Creating mobile crisis response teams: Law enforcement personnel without the necessary training or resources respond to mental health emergencies far too frequently. Enhanced federal Medicaid and state planning grants should be used by policymakers to deploy mobile crisis teams. During times of crisis, these teams become first responders and provide immediate stabilization. The Medicaid program in Arizona exemplifies this. The state’s mobile teams have reduced the burden on the state’s emergency departments and improved outcomes for people in crisis.

Bringing together emergency and other health care services: The response to mental health issues frequently necessitates operational cooperation between various agencies and organizations, but infrastructure is frequently lacking to bridge silos. Policymakers ought to make the managerial and functional framework important to help nearer mix among emergency and other medical care suppliers. After the crisis has been resolved, this will help patients return to their regular care networks and improve their health.

Estimating results: By measuring quality and driving change, many areas of health care have improved significantly. In the field of mental health, we need to do the same thing. The measurement of outcomes like stabilization, residential treatment, and return to home should be emphasized by policymakers. As a result, improvements in care can be accelerated and investment opportunities identified.

The 988 Self destruction and Emergency Help has opened another entryway for emotional well-being support. We all share the responsibility of making sure that door leads to a connected, caring network that is ready to assist at any time.

As a country, we can rethink emergency psychological well-being care. We must seize this opportunity to establish a system that prioritizes integration, compassion, and high-quality care.