Raising the Standard

May 8, 2017

Many Americans who seek mental health care drop out. In fact, 70% that drop out do so after their first or second visit. The first moments of interaction between a provider and a person seeking care for a mental health condition can set the tone and course of treatment.

That is why NAMI hosted a webinar sponsored by SAMHSA on April 25, exploring the pressing need for engagement in our mental health system. NAMI’s Director of Advocacy Darcy Gruttadaro, NAMI’s Senior Manager of Criminal Justice and Advocacy Laura Usher, Ann-Marie Louison, Director of Strategic Initiatives at CASES NYC and Bill Carruthers, director of the peer program at Savannah Counseling Services discussed NAMI’s 2016 report “Engagement: The New Standard for Mental Health Care” and how to improve the experience of receiving mental health services.

Each interaction between a mental health provider and an individual can start a journey to recovery and a satisfying life—or it can leave a person unsure and unwilling to go back for another visit. The same is true about interactions with others in the community. A person who has been told that people with mental illness are scary, weak or unable to care for themselves may not seek help or may avoid telling others the full extent of what they are experiencing.

Effective engagement should be the foundation of mental health services, not merely an aspiration. Watch the webinar to hear compelling stories of engagement and to learn more about NAMI’s recommendations for improving America’s mental health system.

Watch the full webinar.