In 2017, America witnessed the movement to eliminate the access, quality, and cost challenges associated with behavioral healthcare.
Movements are not built overnight; they take time to cultivate, grow momentum, and enact change (see: #MeToo). Movements grow through ripple effects. I believe the Behavioral Health Movement will have a seismic impact across the U.S. going forward.
Movements form in response to overwhelming challenges that are too complex for one aspect of society to tackle alone. The anatomy of successful movements require coordinated efforts of stakeholders who can create change. Health care challenges are not challenges for Healthcare alone. The same holds true for behavioral health. Health plans alone cannot wave magic wands to help over 40 million people in the United States who suffer from behavioral health problems. Politicians alone cannot legislate a solution to the opioid crisis. Health and wellness providers and platforms alone cannot eradicate the stigma of mental illness that prevents so many from getting the help they need. Employers alone cannot account for the over $200 billion incremental cost burden attributable to depression among U.S. employees alone.
