The Maryland Department of Health released a five-step plan to strengthen the state’s youth behavioral health system amid an “urgent need for reform.” The CDC estimates that nearly 30 percent of Maryland middle and high school students report feeling sad or hopeless, while more than 100 young people die each year from drug or alcohol overdoses. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24.
The plan identifies several goals to strengthen Maryland’s youth behavioral health system through increased partnerships with other agencies and organizations to expand services. Currently, the system has resources including the 211 hotline and 988 hotline for families in crisis. Maryland is also one of 11 states to have a Youth Mental Health Corps, which connects young people with trained personnel. Despite these resources, families have reported that services are not easily accessible or widely shared. The department plans to expand and streamline resources by adding them to a web portal and investing in additional outreach efforts.
The MDH also aims to bolster early intervention programs to identify behavioral and mental health issues earlier. Officials will work with Medicaid to encourage follow-ups after screenings. Nationally, 122 million individuals live in a mental health professional shortage area. In Maryland, nearly 80 percent of behavioral health programs for youth have staffing vacancies. The plan includes strategies to increase a diverse and sustainable workforce and expand in-home care to address needs of children with disabilities, those in the LGBTQ+ community, those in foster care, and military families.
The department acknowledges that reform will not happen overnight. “While some parts of the PBHS are currently working well, there is significant room for improvement to ensure that services are family-centered, easy to navigate and access when needed, and that the system is person-centered and culturally responsive.”
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-youth-behavioral-health-mental-crisis-resource-reform/