Getting mental health care where it is needed

There has been a powerful call for better funding for mental health services in the United States. The effort to build capacity in mental health centers is much needed. We need more and better-trained staff, funding that can reduce barriers, and shorten waiting times. The movement to integrate mental health clinicians as part of the care team in primary care will be much more likely to find and engage people who are very troubled but are not seeking mental health care. To increase the likelihood of getting care to troubled people earlier and engaging them in care more effectively, any effort to improve funding for mental health should include a clear focus on improving the integration of mental health into primary care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).