An epidemic of untreated mental illness is ravaging American communities today, fueled by worsening risk factors like loneliness, isolation, addiction, and screen dependence. At one end of the problem is a persistent nationwide shortage of trained mental health professionals. At the other is the reluctance of patients — especially patients from underserved communities — to seek help at all, a factor research suggests may be an even larger contributor to our gaping access gap.
Everyone deserves affordable, accessible, effective mental health care. Digital health tools for both adults and kids, if used safely and effectively, can help achieve this. Often, due to regulatory barriers and lack of reimbursement, innovative digital tools don’t reach those who need them the most, especially at-risk populations.