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"Stigma often scares people away from talking about mental health and seeking out help".

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Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness

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Learn about Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness

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"160 million people live in a designated Mental health Professional shortage Area"

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You Are Not Alone
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Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day.

22.8% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2021 (57.8 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults.

5.5% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2021 (14.1 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.

16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)

7.6% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2021 (19.4 million people)

Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:

Non-Hispanic Asian: 16.4%

Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 18.1%

Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 21.4%

Hispanic or Latino: 20.7%

Non-Hispanic White: 23.9%

Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 26.6%

Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 34.9%

Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 50.2%

Annual prevalence among U.S. adults, by condition:

Schizophrenia: <1%

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1.2%

Borderline Personality Disorder: 1.4%

Bipolar Disorder: 2.8%

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 3.6%

Major Depressive Episode: 8.3%

Anxiety Disorders: 19.1%

Mental Health Care Matters
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47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021

65.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2021

50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016

The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years

Annual treatment rates among U.S. adults with any mental illness, by demographic group:

Non-Hispanic Asian: 25.4%

Hispanic or Latino: 36.1%

Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 39.4%

Non-Hispanic White: 52.4%

Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 52.2%

Male: 40%

Female: 51.7%

Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 55.6%

10.6% of U.S. adults with mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2021

11.9% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2021

160 million people live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area

The Ripple Effect Of Mental Illness
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Having a mental illness can make it challenging to live everyday life and maintain recovery. Beyond the individual, these challenges ripple out through our families, our communities, and our world.

PERSON

People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.

33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals)

The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (7.4%) compared to those who do not (4.6%)

High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers

Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.

FAMILY

At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue

Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care

COMMUNITY

21.1% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition

Among people in the U.S. under age 18, depressive disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization (after excluding hospitalization relating to pregnancy and birth)

Among people in the U.S. aged 18-44, psychosis spectrum and mood disorders account for nearly 600,000 hospitalizations each year

19.7% of U.S. Veterans experienced a mental illness in 2020 (3.9 million people)

9.6% of Active Component service members in the U.S. military experienced a mental health or substance use condition in 2021

Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year

WORLD

Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide

Common Warning Signs Of Mental Illness
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Diagnosing mental illness isn't a straightforward science. We can't test for it the same way we can test blood sugar levels for diabetes. Each condition has its own set of unique symptoms, though symptoms often overlap.

It's Okay To Talk About Suicide
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Thoughts of suicide can be frightening. But by reaching out for help or checking in with family and friends, we can avoid devastating outcomes.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 in the U.S.

​Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.

46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition

90% of people who die by suicide may have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition, according to interviews with family, friends and medical professionals (also known as psychological autopsy)

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, high risk populations:

U.S. Adults: annual average 4.8%

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: 7.4%

Mixed/Multiracial: 8.2%

American Indian/Alaska Native: 8.5%

Youth Populations

Young adults aged 18-25: 13%

High school students: 22%

LGBTQ youth: 45%

Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are nearly 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth

79% of people who die by suicide are male

Transgender adults are nearly 9x more likely to attempt suicide at some point in their lifetime compared to the general population

2020: Recognizing The Impact
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2020 was a year of challenges, marked by loss and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We must recognize the significant impact of the pandemic on our mental health-and the importance of increasing access to timely and effective care for those who need it.

1 in 15 U.S adults experienced both a substance use disorder and mental illness

12+ million U.S adults had serious thoughts of suicide

1 in 5 U.S adults report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health

Among people aged 12 and older who drink alcohol, 15% report increased drinking

Among people aged 12 and older who use drugs, 10% report increased use

Among U.S. adults who received mental health services:

26.3 million U.S adults received virtual mental health services in the past year

2020: Youth & Young Adults
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Youth and young adults experienced a unique set of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic-isolation from peers, adapting to virtual learning, and changes to sleep habits and other routines.

We must recognize the significant impact of these experiences on young people's mental health-and the importance of providing the education, care and support they need.

Among U.S. adolescents (aged 12-17):

Among U.S. young adults (aged 18-25):

1 in 5 young people report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health

1 in 10 people under age 18 experience a mental health condition following a COVID-19 diagnosis

Mental Illness And The Criminal Justice System
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People with mental illness deserve help, not handcuffs. Yet people with mental illness are overrepresented in our nation's jails and prisons. We need to reduce criminal justice system involvement and increase investments in mental health care.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

About 2 million times each year, people with serious mental illness are booked into jails.

About 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails).

66% of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison.

Nearly one in four people shot and killed by police officers between 2015 and 2020 had a mental health condition.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.

An estimated 4,000 people with serious mental illness are held in solitary confinement inside U.S. prisons.

COMMUNITIES

70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition.

Youth in detention are 10 times more likely to suffer from psychosis than youth in the community.

About 50,000 veterans are held in local jails - 55% report experiencing a mental illness.

Among incarcerated people with a mental health condition, non-white individuals are more likely to go to solitary confinement, be injured, and stay longer in jail.

ACCESS TO CARE

About 3 in 5 people (63%) with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons.

Less than half of people (45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails.

People who have healthcare coverage upon release from incarceration are more likely to engage in services that reduce recidivism.

Mental Health & Access To Care In Rural America
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People from all communities are affected by mental illness, but rural Americans often experience unique barriers to managing their mental health.

Among U.S. adults in nonmetropolitan areas, 2020:

21% experienced mental illness

6% experienced serious mental illness

13% experienced a substance use disorder

5% had serious thoughts of suicide

Access to Treatment is Severely Limited

25+ Million rural Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, where there are too few providers to meet demand

Some Populations Face Additional Challenges

53% of rural adults say the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health

66% of farmers and farmworkers

71% of younger adults aged 18-34

Many rural states have a postpartum depression rate higher than the national average of 13%:

21% in Alabama

22% in Mississippi

23% in Arkansas

Rural youth are at an increased risk of suicide, but highly rural areas have fewer youth suicide prevention services

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Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It's important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact - and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and [...]

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"Lack of insight also typically causes a person to avoid treatment."

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When someone rejects a diagnosis of mental illness, it’s tempting to say that he’s “in denial.” But someone with acute mental illness may not be thinking clearly enough to consciously choose denial. They may instead be experiencing “lack of insight” or “lack of awareness.” The formal medical term for this medical condition is anosognosia, from […]

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"individuals speaking out and sharing their stories can have a positive impact."

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Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness

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Learn about Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness

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May- mental health awareness month

September -Suicide prevention month

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Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Throughout the month, NAMI actively participates in this national movement, dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Graphics

Share some of our graphics below ( access our full set of graphics here). Don't forget to tag us at @NAMICommunicate on Instagram and Twitter and @NAMI on TikTok and Facebook and use our hashtag #TakeAMentalHealthMoment #MentalHealthMonth!

Sharing Is Caring

NAMI's signature programs are where people and communities can find help, hope and healing. We encourage you to share or sign up for these programs if you or someone you know needs mental health support.

NAMI Basics: A six-session education program for parents, caregivers and other family members who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms.

NAMI Family-to-Family: A free, eight-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions.

NAMI Family & Friends: A free 90-minute or four-hour seminar that informs people who have loved ones with a mental health condition how to best support them.

NAMI Homefront: A free, six-session program for families, caregivers and friends of military members and veterans with mental health conditions. Plus, find free online resources available 24/7.

NAMI In Our Own Voice: Free presentations that provide a personal perspective of mental health conditions, as leaders with lived experience talk openly about what it's like to have a mental health condition.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer: A free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.

NAMI Support Groups: NAMI support groups are peer-led and offer participants an opportunity to share their experiences and gain support from other attendees.

NAMI HelpLines

In Need of Help or Support?

You are not alone! If you are struggling with your mental health, the NAMI HelpLine is here for you. Connect with a NAMI HelpLine specialist or Teen & Young Adult HelpLine specialist today.

The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public.

The NAMI Teen & Young Adult (T&YA) HelpLine offers a direct connection with another young person who shares similar experiences and is prepared to offer information, resources, and support to help you move through difficult times to a better place.
Available Monday Through Friday, 10 A.M. - 10 P.M. ET
Need Immediate Help in A Crisis?

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Dial or text 988 if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis and get connected to a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Crisis counselors listen empathetically and without judgment. Your crisis counselor will work to ensure that you feel safe and help identify options and information about mental health services in your area.

More ways to get involved this Mental Health Awareness Month

Attend An Event

NAMIWalks: Is more than just a walk-it's a powerful movement for change in mental health. Bringing together individuals, families, and communities, NAMIWalks raises funds, spreads awareness, and fights stigma surrounding mental illness. By participating, you join a nationwide effort to value mental health and promote compassion and understanding for those affected by mental illness.

Partner With Us

Become an advocate: NAMI advocates with elected officials to ensure people get help early, people get the best possible care, and people get diverted from justice system involvement. But, we can't do this without you. Your voice makes a difference.

Volunteer: Get involved with your local NAMI and make a difference in your community or apply to be a volunteer with our national HelpLine.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions.

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Copyright © 2024 NAMI. All rights reserved.

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Messages and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out. Reply HELP for help. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information.

TRADEMARKS

The following are trademarks of NAMI: NAMI, NAMI Basics, NAMI Connection, NAMI Ending the Silence, NAMI FaithNet, NAMI Family & Friends, NAMI Family Support Group, NAMI Family-to-Family, NAMI Grading the States, NAMI Hearts & Minds, NAMI Homefront, NAMI HelpLine, NAMI In Our Own Voice, NAMI On Campus, NAMI Parents & Teachers as Allies, NAMI Peer-to-Peer, NAMI Provider, NAMI Smarts for Advocacy, Act4MentalHealth, Vote4MentalHealth, NAMIWalks and National Alliance on Mental Illness. All other programs and services are trademarks of their respective owners.

NAMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 43-1201653).

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Copyright © 2024 NAMI. All rights reserved. NAMI HELPLINE Messages and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out. Reply HELP for help. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information.

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Ensuring that digital mental health benefits everyone

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Digital mental health tools offer promising benefits for global mental health care, but addressing challenges like cultural sensitivity, digital literacy, and equitable access is crucial to avoid reinforcing existing disparities.

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Amid a shortage of mental health providers, digital therapeutics could play an important role in providing support for underserved communities

Cite this

Stringer, H. (2024, January 1). Mental health care is in high demand. Here's how psychologists are leveraging technology and their peers to meet the need. Monitor on Psychology, 55(1). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/01/trends-pathways-access-mental-health-care

Ninety percent of the public think there is a mental health crisis in the United States today, with half of young adults and one-third of all adults reporting that they have felt anxious either always or often in the past year, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and CNN. One-third of respondents could not get the mental health services they needed. When asked about the specific barriers to accessing care, 80% cited cost and more than 60% cited shame and stigma as the main obstacles. The shortage of mental health providers is also prohibitive, with 60% of psychologists reporting no openings for new patients, according to APA's 2022 Covid-19 Practitioner Impact Survey.

Mental health providers throughout the country share a sense of urgency to find new ways to meet the high demand for services, and innovators are exploring interventions that diverge from traditional therapy models. The creative approaches include forms of support that require less time commitment from individuals, can be offered through digital devices, or both. Clinicians and researchers are seeing the benefits of these strategies in settings such as community clinics and college campuses, where psychologists experience a duty to serve and patients are open to exploring new options to access help.

"The lack of access to mental health care is an equity issue," said Martyn Whittingham, PhD, a licensed psychologist in Ohio who developed a brief group therapy intervention. "Too often people from marginalized communities struggle to access quality psychotherapy, and these innovative strategies can provide support to many more people."

Digital interventions

The use of mental health apps continues to skyrocket. Certain apps, such as digital therapeutics, can cost between $300 and $1,500 per year and are typically not covered by insurance. Psychologists are advocating at the state and federal level for health insurance organizations to cover the fees. Even though digital therapeutics have significant potential, psychologists are also "still figuring out how to use these tools in the context of clinical workflows," said Stephen Schueller, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine. "Evidence suggests that people benefit most from digital therapeutics when the apps are used in conjunction with some form of human support." People may need coaching to troubleshoot technical problems and check-ins to see if symptoms are improving, he said.

Digital therapeutics could play an important role in providing support for underserved communities-specifically, people who speak languages other than English. But most mental health apps are only available in English. The Latinx community represents the largest non-White community in the United States, yet only 14.5% of mental health apps studied in a recent literature review had Spanish-language operability ( Muñoz, A. O., et al., Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol. 3, 2021).

Schueller recently launched a study using a digital therapeutic called SilverCloud that offers cognitive behavioral therapy skills and practice exercises to help people address anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other issues. His team is using the Spanish-language version and training Spanish-speaking laypeople from the community to coach monolingual Spanish-speaking patients to use the app effectively. Schueller's team is exploring how the addition of human support to the SilverCloud intervention impacts clinical outcomes and engagement with the app and how to best integrate this digital therapeutic into care delivery.

Jessica Schleider, PhD, an associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University in Chicago, has been studying interactive digital tools that allow social media users to access single-session interventions that could be completed in one sitting. She was interested in creating a form of support beyond the automated crisis hotline messages users often receive when algorithms for social media platforms detect high-risk searches, such as "suicide" or "kill self." Data revealed that few people were using these resources because the messages felt impersonal and invalidating, said Schleider. "These new interventions are not designed to solve problems in one session, but helping people make one good choice can shift the trajectory of their lives," she said.

Sharing through open access

Open science has been a trend among researchers for many years, but psychologists are now also uniting to share the most reliable clinical assessment tools available with the public on one website. The idea to build this type of resource originated from Mian-Li Ong, PhD, a former graduate student working with Eric Youngstrom, PhD, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Eager to break down walls between psychology and the public, Youngstrom and several students formed Helping Give Away Psychological Science (HGAPS), a nonprofit organization working to share psychology to promote well-being.

Youngstrom and colleagues reviewed and statistically analyzed dozens of free assessment instruments for several conditions-including depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-and made the most reliable measures available on the HGAPS website. People can take the tests online and then receive assessment scores, which they can share with providers. "Many therapists provide treatment without using a rating scale or screener," said Youngstrom. "We tend to ask clients why they want therapy and focus treatment based on the response, but assessments can identify important issues that clients may not be aware of." He hopes the assessments will prompt more people to seek therapy and benefit as much as possible from treatment.

HGAPS has also started building pages on Wikiversity that share the most reliable assessment tools in multiple languages for 16 mental health conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder in youth, and substance use disorder. Some Wiki pages are also related to popular shows, such as Squid Game, offering mental health resources related to topics covered in the show, such as food insecurity and sexual violence. According to the HGAPS dashboard, there have been more than 400 million views of the organization's resources on the web.

The power of one appointment

The importance of designing interventions that can reach more people is gaining momentum not only in the digital arena but also in individual and group therapy contexts. Data show that most patients do not return after their first therapy appointment, even when providers recommend ongoing treatment ( Hoyt, M. F., et al. [Eds.], Single-Session Therapy by Walk-In or Appointment, Routledge, 2018). Aware of this reality, psychologist Windy Dryden, PhD, professor emeritus of psychotherapeutic studies at Goldsmiths University of London, started offering a form of therapy that could effectively help patients in one session. He has trained counselors at more than 20 universities in the United Kingdom to use the model, and the majority of patients he sees through an employee assistance program opt for one session even though eight sessions are covered by insurance (Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2020).

In the last year, demand for Dryden's single-session therapy training has increased because managers at health care agencies are motivated to reduce waiting lists. "I'm happy to provide training for this purpose, but this is not the primary purpose of single-session therapy," Dryden said. "The goal is to help people walk away from a session with the help they are looking for."

Patients complete a questionnaire before the session and share what they want from the meeting, how they have sought help in the past, what helped and what didn't, and other information. Many patients struggle to accurately assess threats and their ability to cope in the face of threats, so Dryden helps them talk through scenarios to improve their accuracy. "This intervention is designed for populations that are poorly served," he said. "People get what they want and waiting lists come down."

Evidence suggests that the single-session approach is helping patients. In a systematic review of studies involving single-session therapy to treat anxiety disorders in youth and adults, researchers found that this intervention was superior to no treatment and similar to multitreatment sessions in reducing anxiety symptoms ( Bertuzzi et al., Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 12, 2021).

Learning by doing

Focused brief group therapy (FBGT) is another strategy that increases access by empowering participants to practice skills in a safe environment. The model, which involves 8 to 12 sessions of group therapy, was developed by Whittingham when he was an associate professor of clinical psychology at Wright State University. The counseling center's providers had long waitlists and a desperate need for an intervention that would fit within the school calendar system. "I knew students were developmentally concerned about relationships, and I wanted to use the power of the group to help people," Whittingham said.

Participants take a preassessment called the interpersonal circumplex to understand their specific type of relationship distress. The tool assesses traits like assertiveness, dominance, agreeableness, and warmth, and members collaboratively establish goals with the therapist to improve relationships. During the meetings, participants restate their goals and practice new behaviors. If someone shares difficulties with a relationship, a group member who is striving to be less conflictual could practice being supportive by asking follow-up questions and affirming the individual. "This is not role play," Whittingham said. "By interacting in real time, people experience deep physical and emotional responses because they are often afraid of rejection." When they take risks by trying new behaviors and experience acceptance, participants are more willing to try the new behaviors in their lives, he said.

Although FBGT originated in the university setting, an increasing number of health care organizations have started contacting Whittingham to learn how to implement the model. Psychiatrist Meenakshi Denduluri, MD, was drawn to FBGT because the groups were here-and-now focused rather than centered on skills-based psychoeducation. Denduluri, who recently led FBGT in the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in California, had also noticed that patients in individual therapy often struggled with interpersonal patterns that inhibited their ability to progress in treatment. "The psychological safety in the therapy groups allowed people to take interpersonal risks that they could not take in their personal lives," she said.

College campuses are also increasingly leveraging the healing power of social connections to boost support for students struggling with mental health issues. Although peer support programs are not new, they are proliferating on campuses nationwide amid a current mental health crisis and a renewed understanding that supporting students is the responsibility of the whole campus community-including peers, said Zoe Ragouzeos, PhD, LCSW, executive director of Counseling and Wellness Services at New York University. These peer programs can reduce stigma, reach more people, and increase diversity in the support options, she explained.

Mental health providers at New York University were eager to incorporate peers into the school's student support offerings in 2023, which prompted Ragouzeos to launch a peer listening program in which participants divided into pairs and responded to a prompt, such as "What is on your heart right now?" The participants took turns listening and sharing with responses of either "Is there more?" or "Thank you for sharing." Partners ended the conversation by expressing in a positive way how it felt getting to know the other person. Survey results from more than 500 students showed that most participants felt less stress, anxiety, and overwhelm after the peer listening interactions. "It was remarkable how many students feel that they don't have a forum in which they can speak about what is going on without interruption," Ragouzeos said.

Peer support programs range from psychoeducation, in which trained students provide information on mental health topics, to support groups, where students gather in formalized settings to share their experiences and feelings. Ragouzeos has seen robust interest among students to learn how to help peers who are struggling and have conversations that boost well-being. "We can't meet the needs without them because too few people come through the formal channels of counseling services," said Ragouzeos. "It is our responsibility to find ways to engage students in helping each other and ensure they have the right resources to support one another safely."

Further reading

Randomized evaluation of an online single-session intervention for minority stress in LGBTQ+ adolescents
Shen, J., et al., Internet Interventions, 2023

Peer programs in college student mental health: An essential approach to student well-being in need of structure and support
Humphrey, D., et al., Mary Christie Institute and Ruderman Family Foundation, 2022

How Kaiser Permanente created a mental health and wellness digital ecosystem
Mordecai, D., et al., NEJM Catalyst, 2021

Recommended Reading

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Mental health care is in high demand. Here's how psychologists are leveraging technology and their peers to meet the need

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Amid a shortage of mental health providers, digital therapeutics could play an important role in providing support for underserved communities.