Rethinking Access Solutions

Access to mental health services has been a top priority for public policy and health plan system design for the past three years. The driver is clear—the increase in the prevalence in mental health and addictive disorders, driven by the pandemic—a 25% increase in anxiety and depression (see COVID-19 Pandemic Triggers 25% Increase In Prevalence Of Anxiety And Depression Worldwide)—and eating disorders were 15.3% higher in 2020 than in 2019 (see Increased Prevalence Of Eating Disorders Observed During Covid-19 Pandemic).

The result has been long wait times for appointments with mental health clinicians. The . . .