White papers
Why telebehavioral health is here to stay: comfort, convenience, and effectiveness
Telebehavioral health (TBH) changed the way care providers offered services over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the public health emergency (PHE) that ensued, federal and state governments adjusted regulations so individuals could more easily receive behavioral health services. This resulted in fewer access disruptions, lower care costs, and helped establish TBH as a viable treatment modality.
Although the PHE has ended and in-person visits have increased, TBH remains popular. Care providers and regulators are now working to establish how TBH can best serve individuals who need care, while also supporting care providers in a post-pandemic world.
Crisis collaboratives: Optimizing the behavioral health system to increase access to care
Any gap in crisis response can have serious consequences. The development of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline marks an important opportunity for states, counties, and territories to establish stronger, more coordinated response teams. The key is collaboration and partnerships. By aligning all stakeholders, communities are better equipped to identify gaps in service, find creative ways to fill those gaps, and leverage collective resources to increase access to care.
Find out how stakeholder-driven community collaboratives in Washington state proved foundational to the region’s innovative crisis response system. The results in Washington can be replicated in large and small communities around the nation.
Point of partnership — clinical intervention at the scene
The demand for comprehensive and well-coordinated crisis systems is taking center stage nationally. Stakeholders are re-evaluating their emergency response systems, and law enforcement agencies are seeking behavioral health support and education. In turn, individuals experiencing behavioral health crises simply want to get the care they need in the most effective and compassionate manner possible.
This white paper reflects on the intersection of the behavioral health crisis system and law enforcement. It offers solutions to build a comprehensive system that promotes collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health professionals to improve the health and well-being of our communities.
TRUE JUSTICE — mental health intervention vs. incarceration
Most people probably don’t know that nearly 25% of individuals involved with the criminal justice system report a serious mental illness. It’s an unsettling statistic as it suggests that correctional institutions have become de facto mental health facilities.
Recognizing the need for change, many communities are diverting justice-involved individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to needed behavioral health services. This white paper proposes how state and local governments can coordinate across agencies to reduce and divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
* Today, we are Carelon Behavioral Health, but when we published some of these white papers, we were Beacon Health Options.
