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Current State of Women’s Mental Healthcare

Nearly 50% of women in the U.S. identify their obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) as their main medical provider. This means they often discuss mental health concerns with their OBGYN, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, substance abuse and trauma.¹

However, OBGYNs and other medical specialists often lack the necessary training to effectively identify and treat behavioral health conditions. Even when mental health issues can be identified, many OBGYNs report feeling unprepared to provide adequate treatment. This has led to an uptick in misdiagnoses and underdiagnoses of conditions like depression and anxiety – two conditions that impact 66% of women today.²

Behavioral health will always be important in the OBGYN setting, but it is imperative that hospitals make strides to integrate effective programming across all care settings, as well as through a dedicated hospital or unit.

What Your Hospital Can Do to Improve Access and Outcomes

No single hospital or health system can eradicate the disparities in women's behavioral health. However, by prioritizing behavioral health integration, hospitals can make substantial strides in improving both patient outcomes and their own operational efficiency.

OBGYNs will remain a critical source of care for mental health discussions, but when an effective behavioral health program is put in place across the care continuum – or within its own standalone facility/unit – women can begin to experience:

• • • Increased awareness of behavioral health conditions, how to identify symptoms and where to seek treatment.
    • Reassurance that all care can be met without having to travel to a different location.
    • Enhanced care efficiency within the hospital as more quality resources become available to treat a variety of behavioral health conditions.
    • Improved health and well-being of the entire community.

Most importantly, behavioral health integration can help improve access to care. Especially as:^2,3

• • • 45% of women report having one or more anxiety disorders, compared to 34% of men.
    • 55% of women below the federal poverty level (FPL) report the need for behavioral healthcare, yet most of those who seek treatment are above the FPL.
    • 37% of women are unable to schedule an appointment for behavioral healthcare within a month of contacting a provider.
    • 16% of woman are unable to get an appointment scheduled at all.
    • 33% of women are unable to afford mental healthcare due to the high care cost.

Partnership: The Next Step in Addressing Women’s Health Needs

Whether your hospital is already providing behavioral health services or is considering a new program, having the right tools, resources and expertise is essential.

Strategic joint venture (JV) or contract management partnerships play a key role in navigating the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, especially in behavioral health. As a leading provider of post-acute services, including behavioral health and inpatient rehabilitation, Â鶹Éçhelps hospitals deliver high-quality care without unnecessary resource or capital expenditure.

Ready to enhance or expand your post-acute service offerings? Contact us to learn how we can help your hospital expand critical behavioral health access to all members of your community.

References

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7225040/
2. https://www.advisory.com/topics/womens/2023/08/womens-health-opportunity-anxiety-disorders-depression-care
3. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/mmh-strategy.pdf