Mental health No. 1 priority in Tulsa health plan

The Tulsa Health Department conducts community health needs assessments every three to five years to ensure that the agency identifies and meets Tulsa County residents' health and quality of life needs.

In the most recent assessment, mental health was a critical issue identified by community stakeholders as an unmet need that generates tremendous costs across multiple community sectors, such as health care, education, criminal justice, businesses, and emergency and social services.

Much of the economic burden of mental illness is due to the loss of income from unemployment. These conditions increase costs for social support and can result in an increase in costs due to chronic disability usually occurring early in life.

As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2022, only six states had lower mental health expenditures per capita than Oklahoma, and only five state mental health agencies spent less per client than Oklahoma.

We must do more to increase access to mental health resources in Oklahoma and Tulsa County.

The assessment asked residents how to improve mental health capacity in Tulsa County. The responses broke down as follows:

• 48% more aff ordable services

• 36% expanded health insurance coverage

• 35% fl exible appointment times

• 32% shorter wait times for appointments

„• 28% more providers needed in their area

•„ 27% increased awareness of services

•„ 22% telehealth services availability

„• 15% culturally sensitive care

•„ 13% transportation options

„• 10% other needs

In response, THD has focused on mental health as the No. 1 need in our agency's current community health improvement plan. Besides the social costs, mental health issues impact the productivity and profitability of businesses, increase health care costs, prevent kids from succeeding in school, and can result in negative family and community dynamics.

Lessons learned from integrated behavioral health models situated in primary care clinics support the idea that we cannot separate physical and emotional health. They are integral to the quality of life.

People's ability to live fulfilling lives often depends on their mental health. Holistically, protecting and rehabilitating a mental health system is of immediate concern to public health practitioners.

Marginalized communities consistently encounter more serious mental health issues than other communities for reasons that can be entirely preventable. People who belong to racial, gender and sexual minority groups and who are from low socioeconomic backgrounds may experience excessive mental health issues while simultaneously experiencing additional barriers to receiving mental health services.

A crucial strategy for recognizing and prioritizing mental health as a public health issue is the assurance that widespread community mental health care is accessible, affordable and available. Sadly, research conducted during the pandemic showed that people from racial/ethnic minority groups who experienced poor mental health had less access to mental health care than white people.

Adverse mental health status can not only affect a person's ability to live a fulfilling life, but it can also lead to physical, social and emotional issues that can last a lifetime.

No one approach can solve the current mental health crisis. Public health practitioners utilize a primary prevention approach to improve and promote positive mental health by focusing on both the drivers of well-being and mental distress. This proactive approach works to prevent debilitating mental health conditions before they develop or worsen.

In full disclosure, THD has little experience in the mental health space. But, by working with community partners, we can improve the accessibility and quality of mental health services in Tulsa County. These partners include health care providers, public health workers and community mental health organizations.

One of the biggest barriers to care is the stigma surrounding mental health and psychiatric care that varies across ethnic and cultural contexts. To effectively address and reduce stigma in mental health care settings is to develop culturally sensitive interventions that must be implemented to promote understanding and acceptance of mental health as a driver of quality of life.

By doing so, we can collectively work toward improving access to mental health care and promoting the well-being of all residents of Tulsa County.

Bruce dart, Ph.d., is the executive director of the Tulsa Health department and a member of the Tulsa World advisory Committee.