The recent shooting in Parkland, Fla., yet another in a seemingly endless string of mass shootings, again leaves a community reeling with loss and sorrow. And it leaves the rest of the nation wondering: What can be done to keep our nation safer and end this violence once and for all?
The national discussion is focused, in part, on regulating firearms and access to weapons in American households. Healthcare industry leaders must continue to be a part of these conversations and a voice in framing one of the critical underlying factors behind violence using guns and other means—namely, barriers to treatment of behavioral health diseases, particularly missed opportunities to improve access to mental and behavioral healthcare.
We prioritize cardiac disease, cancer prevention and other treatable or preventable diseases that take American lives too soon. If I told you that one-fifth of adult Americans had some form of bone disease, there would be a public outcry to dramatically ramp up all research and treatment for it. Well, approximately one in five U.S. adults are affected by a mental illness as reported by the National Alliance of Mental Illness. As a nation, we must fully acknowledge that mental and behavioral health disorders require the same attention and resources as any other pervasive disease. Behavioral health diseases are often progressive, and delayed treatment has consequences that extend far beyond our healthcare system. It prolongs unimaginable pain for those who need care, unnecessarily burdens our justice system and leaves society asking why unspeakable events such as the mass shooting in Parkland continue.
As part of our mission at Ascension, we are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care for body, mind and spirit — especially for people living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Across our 2,500 sites of care, we are integrating behavioral healthcare into the primary care setting through the addition of clinical specialists focused on patients’ mental and behavioral health needs.
Our treatment programs for those in need of mental and behavioral healthcare have also expanded to telehealth services that serve individuals in any setting, right where they are and right when it’s needed. Our research also analyzes the social determinants of behavioral health issues to best understand risk factors so we can incorporate the findings into our care plans.
Mass shootings demand our dedication, action and candid discussion about all components contributing to these tragedies. Healthcare and legislative leaders across America have a responsibility to respond effectively with thoughtful and effective solutions to behavioral health disparities.
Unfortunately, national legislation and resources are failing to address the great need for mental health solutions. To achieve an effective national health system, we need legislative solutions that support mental health initiatives –for example, ensuring that states require health insurance to provide full coverage for mental health conditions. Increasing access, availability, affordability and awareness of mental health resources should be one of our highest priorities as we consider how we will respond to continuing violence in our schools and communities.
We cannot wait for another devastating event to create genuine transformation so that these senseless tragedies become a thing of the past. Everyone has a part to play, and we need an all-out effort to make it happen. Congress must act to make our communities safer and create greater access to mental and behavioral treatment. And healthcare leaders have an obligation to commit time, resources and expertise to expand care to those who need it. Together, we have a responsibility to address the problems contributing to the deadly attacks in Parkland, Las Vegas, Orlando, Newtown and elsewhere.