Northwestern Medicine Launches $8.6M Initiative to Enhance Mental Health Care Access
Collaboration to Improve Mental Health Care Access in Chicago
Chicago, Nov. 20, 2024 – Northwestern Medicine, West Health, and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute announced a partnership aimed at enhancing access to mental health services for primary care patients.
This $8.6 million initiative, known as the Northwestern Medicine West Health Accelerator, will expand psychiatric services within Northwestern Medicine’s primary care practices. The goal is to improve access to mental health care and encourage earlier intervention.
“Demand for effective mental health treatments is rising across the U.S. and in Chicago,” said Sachin Patel, MD, PhD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine. “This collaboration will improve the delivery of behavioral health services and expand patient access to care.”
In 2022, over one in five U.S. adults, or 59.3 million people, lived with a mental illness, and only about half received treatment in the previous year.
To tackle this issue, Northwestern Medicine started its Collaborative Behavioral Health Program (CBHP) in 2018, integrating mental health care into primary care to enhance population health management. The program is now available at 75 primary care locations within the NM System.
The success of CBHP led to the new partnership to increase its reach and facilitate the growth of similar programs nationwide.
Shelley Lyford, CEO and Chair of West Health, stated, “This collaboration could be transformative. We will combine resources and expertise to create a care model that can be adapted across health systems in the country.”
Andy Keller, President and CEO of the Meadows Institute, highlighted the importance of integrated care in ensuring timely treatment for individuals.
The Northwestern Medicine West Health Accelerator will bring expertise in patient care, technology, business development, and data management. This will help establish best practices for mental health services.
About Northwestern Medicine
To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit NM.org.
About West Health
West Health is funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West. It aims to lower healthcare costs and improve the quality of care for seniors. More information can be found at westhealth.org.
About Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
The Meadows Institute focuses on creating equitable changes in mental health care. It provides data-driven policy guidance and aims for early intervention for mental health issues. Learn more at mmhpi.org.