Mental Health Services Access

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The unique challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic increased the push for mental health awareness in our country. The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) remains committed to improving mental health services in primary care for all Pennsylvania patients.

PAMED has supported previous initiatives by the legislature that would allow for small, independent primary care practices to provide on the spot mental health care for their patients.

A 2018 study by the World Health Organization stated, “The key advantages of delivering mental health care through primary care are that it is accessible, affordable, and acceptable to people with mental health problems and their families addressing health inequities and ensuring continuity of care for this population.”

Mental health integration in primary care promotes comprehensive, coordinated, and person-centered care for the many people with comorbid physical and mental health problems.”

Key Items:

• Increasing access to mental health services aids in lessening the stigma of psychological and behavioral health issues
• According to a 2022 World Health Organization study, there was a 25% increase in anxiety and depression after the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • These affected mostly young adults and women.
  • CDC published an analysis on the mental health of U.S. high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the data, 37% of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless through 2021.
  • In a 2018 report on mental health in primary care, the World Health Organization noted that globally, depression is a leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents, and suicide is a leading cause of death in 15-19 years old.
• Lack of access to mental health services contributes to an increase in the utilization of hospital emergency departments. According to the National Syndromic Surveillance Program by the CDC, an evaluation of 190 million emergency department visits from the end of 2018 to 2020 revealed 6 million people had at least one behavioral symptom.