Rhode Island politicians have announced a $79.2 million dollar commitment in the 2024-2025 State Budget to fund eight new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.
The state was one of ten chosen for the federal demonstration program that will help Rhode Island transition to a new system of behavioral healthcare that provides same-day care for people of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay, via the new health clinics.
The grant allows Rhode Island to receive Medicaid reimbursements at higher rates to help reduce costs to the state.
“As part of my administration’s Rhode Island 2030 Plan, we are building a state health system that better supports affordable and accessible services to maximize health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders,” said Governor Dan McKee.
“This designation and the accompanying federal funding will strengthen the state’s network of mental health care and substance use treatment centers. It will ensure more Rhode Islanders – especially those experiencing severe mental health issues or addiction disorders – can access the timely support and treatment they need,” stated Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, Rep. Magaziner, and Rep. Amo in a joint statement.
“The state can use this federal funding to help expand access to integrated, evidence-based addiction and mental health services to meet the needs of people in our communities.”
The securing of long overdue funding to address mental health and substance use is also of great benefit to current mental health professionals - and to those about to enter the field and are studying relevant degrees such as a post masters PMHNP online - as this new transformative and equalizing way to manage mental health will reduce strain on an already overwhelmed industry.
While individuals of all ages and backgrounds can experience mental health or substance abuse issues, data has shown college students are currently experiencing all-time high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality.
It is estimated one in five adults in the United States live with a mental illness, and young adults aged between 18 to 25 are disproportionately affected. The number of college students reporting anxiety and depression continues to grow year on year, exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Healthy Minds, which reviewed responses from 96,000 students across 133 campuses;
- 44% of students reported symptoms of depression
- 37% of students reported feelings of anxiety
- 15% of students had seriously considered suicide - the highest rate in the survey’s history
- Interestingly binge drinking is down, with 54% of students saying they had not consumed alcohol in the past two weeks
Another study also showed that more than 60% of students had met criteria for one or more mental health problems.
Due to this rise, the number of students seeking help at campus counseling centers has also continued to increase. Between 2009 and 2015, 40% more students sought help for their mental health, and this number has continued to rise right up until the COVID-19 pandemic began.
What the issue is, however, is this rising demand has not been matched with a corresponding rise in funding, which has led to higher caseloads for college counselors and less bandwidth to manage students who need help.
And while colleges are looking for innovative, creative ways to engage and provide support to their students, in many cases it is not enough.
The new Community Behavioural Health Clinics could form part of the answer to the rising mental health issues facing college students. Photo by Nik Shuliahin ?? on Unsplash.
How mental health funding can support student well-being
Young adult years are a vulnerable time for many, and the significant changes that often come with attending college such as increased coursework, navigating relationships, and adjusting to campus life are all new stressors that can adversely impact their mental health.
With colleges struggling to manage the tide of students requiring counseling and other mental health services, the new Community Behavioral Health Clinics will be a welcome addition to help steam the flow and offer a new avenue for students who need help.
The availability of the new clinics to those who otherwise may not be able to afford it is also an important factor. In 2023, 25 million people in the United States had no health insurance. Although this number has been in decline since 2020 and the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, it still represents an undesirable number of people who are not able to access the healthcare they need.
Finally, despite significant leaps forward in understanding what mental health is and the impact poor mental health can have on people, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness.
In a study on university students’ perspectives on mental illness stigma, students identified academic pressure, the concealed nature of mental illness, and the mistreatment of people with mental illnesses as sources of stigma. This stigma threatened three aspects of a college student's life; being, doing, and belonging. Lastly, enhancing awareness of students’ mental health issues and improving mental health service delivery was vital to addressing stigma.
Despite the rise in students seeking mental health help, it is clear some are still unwilling to reach out for fear of judgment, worrying about a potential negative impact on their grades, or an unwillingness to feel ostracized by their peers. Having a reliable, accessible service outside of the confines of a college could be the resource these students need to get the help they require without feeling it is tied back to their school life.
With one in four college students having recently considered withdrawing from school due to emotional stress, it is clear mental health issues are having a severe impact on our youth. While many colleges are understanding and supportive, most students require more than this to meet their mental health needs.
Although more is required, the Community Behavioral Health Clinics are an important step forward for these students and other individuals in the Rhode Island community who require these vital services.