Modern Healthcare June 27, 2020
Weeks of social distancing and economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 coupled with the recent civil unrest over racial injustice is threatening to turn concerns over meeting demand for behavioral healthcare into a full-blown crisis.
Nearly half of U.S. adults reported their mental health was negatively affected due to worry and stress over the virus, according to a poll the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted in March.
Stakeholders fear the continuing effects of the pandemic will only accelerate the trend. “Prior to this pandemic, behavioral health conditions were already increasing significantly,” said John Boyd, CEO of mental health and addiction care for Sacramento, Calif.-based integrated health system Sutter Health.
While the increased demand for services has presented challenges, Boyd said it has...