Substance Use Disorders: A Foundation Sees New Opportunities And Continuing Challenges

Behavioral health conditions (including both mental illness and substance use disorders) are common and serious problems throughout Montana. In 2014, Montana had the highest suicide rate in the United States for all age groups, and it has been among the five states with the highest suicide rate in the nation for more than forty years. Community health assessments from Montana’s fifty-six counties consistently ranked behavioral health as one of the leading community concerns. The Montana Healthcare Foundation (MHCF) was formed in 2013 and is Montana’s largest health-focused philanthropy. Behavioral health is one of the foundation’s three major focus areas. To develop our approach and understanding of behavioral health challenges in Montana, MHCF commissioned a report titled Integrated Behavioral Health in Montana: A Baseline Assessment of Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities and met extensively with staff at community mental health centers, substance use treatment centers, hospitals, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), tribal health departments, and advocacy groups, and with policy leaders and others. Two key findings have driven the foundation’s strategy on behavioral health and, specifically, substance use disorder (SUD). SUD As A Chronic Health Condition   Whereas mental health is struggling to be recognized as an essential part of the health system, SUD is struggling to be in the health system conversation at all. Mental health has been gradually b...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Featured GrantWatch Health Professionals Organization and Delivery Behavioral Health Chronic Care Consumers Health Care Delivery Health Philanthropy Health Promotion and Disease PreventionGW Medicaid Mental Health Montana Substan Source Type: blogs