We know that prevention works in physical healthcare spaces, yet preventative measures are often left out of mental health conversations. The strategies under this priority help lift up mental health prevention while also addressing burnout that mental health professionals are experiencing, especially since the onset of the COVID pandemic. The strategies outlined in this focus area align with efforts in the Access to Healthcare group, which creates more direct opportunities to integrate mental and physical healthcare approaches. Embedding mental health support within the community helps to destigmatize conversations and connect folks to new forms of coping and healing. Mental health is influenced by so many elements in our community. Building connections with schools, parks and recreation, community centers, cultural centers, faith organizations, and other spaces where folks already gather and connect can build a tighter web of mental health communication channels and resources. Involving new partners in mental health solutions will also support building a pipeline for more diverse providers. We know that increasing cultural relevancy of interventions has potential to reduce disparities in mental health utilization, yet there is a wide shortage of mental health providers of color. The second strategy to support a pipeline for support providers is similarly influenced by the tenet of meeting people where they are by connecting LCSW programs and groups who hire interns and employers with organizations working with priority populations to promote mental health career options (e.g., HBCUs, LGBTQ Centers) through job fair events. The workgroup also hopes to explore opportunities to support internship funding availability to address financial burdens. These ideas of what works align with insights from Healthy Communities Foundation from Chicago.

Barriers to Services

Wake County recognizes that in many ways, we are a resource-rich area, yet organizations aren’t always integrated across conversations especially in the mental health spaces, and resources that do exist do not often reflect the diversity of the community. As such, the workgroup is focusing on two main strategies: connecting non-traditional organizations with mental health efforts and supporting a pipeline for more diverse providers. Both of these strategies involve building and maintaining new organizational partnerships and reaching people where they already are in order to raise awareness around mental health and available resources.

Integrated Mental and Physical Healthcare Action Plan

This focus area is intended to support “one stop shop” solutions that integrate mental and physical healthcare in order to address barriers and loss to follow-up. This area was selected with a desire to reduce mental health stigma and establish funding parity between mental and physical health resources and professions. The mental health workgroup will focus on addressing integrated mental and physical healthcare by focusing on building and supporting the mental health workforce and advocating for mental health integration. 

We will impact mental health integration through building connections among mental health providers and peer support specialists in order to address barriers to care and burnout that the workforce is experiencing. In addition to providing direct workforce support, the workgroup will advocate for policy changes in order to increase mental health prevention. By connecting with non-traditional organizations, the workgroup will be able to maximize the county’s existing resources by connecting existing dots. Strengthening a network of organizations committed to mental health will reduce mental health stigma and expand options. Efforts to support a pipeline for more diverse providers will create impact by addressing current limitations in workforce and culturally appropriate care.

Mental health includes a persons emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Affecting how a person may think, feel and act, and it determines how well a person is able to handle stress and make choices throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Mental health illness can affect people from all ages and racial/ethnic backgrounds. However, there are specific populations that can be affected at a diproportionate rate. It's reported that only half of all people living with mental ilness get the treatment they need. 

With increased rates of emergency department visits and suicide mortality. Mental health continues to be a top priority in Wake County. Mental health and physical health are closely connected with a persons wellbeing. Physical health problems often contributes to a person not getting treated for mental disorders. Substance use can be a closely connected to mental and Wake County mental health crisis services struggle to meet the demand especially for the elderly and children. In turn, local hospital emergency departments and jails provide needed care when the existing crisis system is full.