Mental Health
Goal
By 2029, decrease the rate of deaths by suicide in adults from the baseline of 13.4 deaths per 100,000 people to below the HP2030 target of 12.8 deaths per 100,000 people.
Mental health is defined by emotional, psychological, and social well-being, which can be influenced by what an individual does to impact their well-being. It can also be attributed to how a person handles stress and makes healthy choices. Mental health is essential in every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Mental and physical health are both essentially important components of overall health. Mental and physical health conditions can increase the risk for developing many types of chronic conditions. Some mental health conditions are associated with an increased risk of suicide, but it is important to note that not all deaths by suicide are due to a mental health condition.
- Almost two out of 10 adult Virginians reported having depression, and over one out of 10 adults reported 14+ days of poor mental health in the past 30 days.
- Virginia high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless every day for 2+ weeks in a row increased from 2013 (25.7%) to 2019 (32.4%).
- The percentage of adults who reported three or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) remained stable from 2016 to 2019.
- In 2016, 2017, and 2019, a higher percentage of Hispanic adults reported three or more ACEs compared with other racial and ethnic groups.
- More middle and high school students in 2021 reported suicidal ideation compared to 2015.
- Nonfatal self-harm hospitalizations decreased by 25%, and deaths by suicide remained stable in Virginia from 2016 to 2021.
Strategies
Increase the number of school districts and community groups that use evidence-based and best practice programs that promote resilience and healthy decision-making.
Explore avenues for expanding after-school programming.
Continue to provide, and where not available develop, prevention and early intervention services to middle and high school students.
Identify evidence-based strategies and tools to use in prevention and intervention services for middle and high school students.
Plan in-person and virtual education sessions using approved resources and programs to educate students on the importance of mental wellness.
Strategies
The goal of Right Help Right Now is to support Virginians before, during, and after a behavioral health crisis occurs.
Enhance mobile crisis team capacity.
Enhance crisis receiving and stabilization capacity.
Provide training and support to Community Service Boards (CSBs).
Expand community-based models.
Empower communities to address the substance use crisis.
Support public campaigns to increase the attractiveness of behavioral health roles in the workforce.
Increase cross-agency referrals for social needs utilizing Virginia’s e-referral platform.
Strategies
Increase community follow up and connection to care following a suicide attempt or crisis through improved collaboration among first responders, hospitals, emergency rooms, inpatient mental health programs, and local crisis service providers.
Increase mental health provider availability in underserved areas.
Continue to support the multi-agency response for the U.S and Virginia transition from the 11–digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988, an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care, and the Veteran Crisis Line.
Provide training to mental health professionals to increase support and referral options for Virginians at risk of suicide or experiencing unmet mental health needs.
Promote suicide prevention as a core component of health care services.
Continue to address the social determinants of health that increase the risk of suicide, self- harm, and adverse health consequences such as adequate housing and economic opportunities and provide support to address food security.
Continue to heighten public awareness of lethal means storage and increase help seeking.
Continue to support Virginia Mental Health Access Program to reduce wait time for mental health assessment and treatment of young children, minimize barriers to treatment, and provide support to local pediatricians who see children with mental health issues.
Continue to support Collaborative Care models as a systematic strategy for treating behavioral health conditions in primary care through the integration of care managers and psychiatric consultants.
Strategies
Assist in finding adequate employment opportunities for Virginians diagnosed with a mental disorder that are unemployed.
PRAPARE is a national standardized patient risk assessment protocol designed to engage patients in assessing & addressing social drivers of health (SDOH).
Promote and increase the use of screenings via Virginia’s e-referral platform to provide housing and employment resources as part of treatment plan.