Improve coordination and accessibility of mental health
and substance abuse treatment services.
Objective: People in need will have timely and appropriate access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
WHAT VERMONT CAN DO
Individuals & Families:
- Encourage people to seek help for mental health and substance abuse conditions.
Organizations:
Non-profit, Community-Based, Faith-Based, and Businesses
- Provide training so peers and family members know the available resources and how to
access them. - Provide materials alerting your constituency to the availability of mental health and substance abuse services.
- Talk openly about the struggles people face with mental health conditions and substances in your faith communities – as part of lessons and services, or in recognition of awareness days such as Depression Awareness Day.
- Integrate mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention into health and social services outreach programs for both the general and at-risk populations.
- Schools, Colleges, and Universities:
- Train students to support peers in seeking
help for mental health and substance abuse conditions. - Offer affordable, easily-accessible mental health services on campuses.
- Provide opportunities and encouragement for the formation of student support groups around mental health conditions and substance abuse.
Healthcare:
- Integrate mental health and substance
abuse services into primary medical care through co-location and other convenient access to services. - Locate mental health and substance abuse services in youth and young adult friendly spaces such as after-school clubs, teen drop-in centers, and sports activities.
- Provide integrated mental health and substance abuse and primary care services and support at home for seniors.
Policy and Systems:
- Continue to build capacity for mental health and substance abuse treatment statewide.
- Ensure health insurance benefit packages cover access to mental health and substance abuse care on par with access to physical health care.
- Design Vermont payment reform models that encourage timely provision of services to prevent suicide.
- Promote timely access to assessment,
intervention, and effective care for individuals with a heightened risk for suicide.
