Refocusing Mental Health Treatment to Prevention

Introduction to the Crisis

Florida’s doctors report the state is experiencing a mental health catastrophe, with not enough beds for children in crisis to be admitted into a hospital. With the projected bed gap growing, mental health advocates in the state turned their focus last week to prevention.

The Need for Early Intervention

“There’s no prevention and there’s relatively no recovery,” former Congressman and mental health advocate Patrick J. Kennedy said at the South Florida Behavioral Health Conference in Fort Lauderdale. “All we have are acute episodic treatment in this country. We wait until you have a stage 4 illness. If you don’t start treating someone until it’s stage 4, it makes recovery a lot more difficult, just as it would be if it were cancer or any other illness.” Kennedy personally fights alcohol addiction and has been in rehab multiple times over his 57 years. His first time was at 17. He implored the more than 800 South Florida mental health advocates and providers at the behavioral health conference to devise strategies to keep Florida youth from entering crises.

Factors Contributing to Mental Health Issues

“When you don’t treat someone early and they grow up in a family where there’s violence, where there’s mental illness, where there’s addiction, where there are adverse childhood experiences … If you don’t address those early, you’re going to pay for it,” he said. Florida is among the worst states in the country for mental health and substance use issues. Like the rest of the nation, the Sunshine State is experiencing a serious shortage of behavioral health providers. As many as 60% of children in Florida with mental health needs do not receive the necessary care, according to a Florida Behavioral Health Profile. Kennedy believes social media, sports betting, pornography, and commercialized marijuana will fuel mental health conditions, especially in young people.

The Challenge of Accessing Services

In Florida, the majority of serious mental illnesses emerge between the ages of 14 and 24, according to a Florida Behavioral Health Profile. “That’s also the time when it’s most difficult to obtain services,” said Randy Scheid, founder and CEO of RGS Partners Consulting, which assessed the behavioral health landscape in Florida. “It’s very unclear where to go, where to turn to for help.” Scheid discovered that behavioral health professionals are reimbursed at lower rates than other medical professionals, which has exacerbated a shortage of providers. “This makes it difficult for individuals to find in-network care, afford copays, or receive necessary treatments,” he said.

Strategies for Prevention

At the conference, Scheid suggested creating an electronic directory of behavioral health resources. “It would be a way to easily figure out resources in certain areas,” he said. Already there are programs in Florida schools focused on anti-bullying, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. But even more are needed, said Maria Hernandez, chief program officer for United Way of Broward County. Hernandez said a focus on prevention means programs also need to be available in after-school programs and community centers. They need to teach children coping skills and how to talk to their parents about mental health issues, she said. “Wherever the young people are, we need to show up and address their needs,” Hernandez said.

Expanding the Scope of Prevention

The behavioral health crisis in Florida extends beyond young people. It includes adults who engage in substance use and isolated seniors who suffer from depression. Conference workshops included discussions on suicide prevention, drug use prevention, and peer support. “It is all about looking at new ways of doing things to prevent a crisis,” said Kathleen Cannon, president/CEO of United Way of Broward County, which co-hosted the conference. “Prevention really works, but it’s hard to measure. It takes years to see if there are fewer admissions into psychiatric beds or treatment centers,” Cannon said.

Faith-Based Initiatives and Policymaker Education

The focus on prevention at the conference included faith-based leaders who often are the front line for congregants suffering from behavioral health issues. “People come to a church leader and say, ‘My son is suicidal, or my spouse is using opioids.’ Those faith leaders want help,” Cannon said. Cannon said policymakers and funders of mental health programs in Florida need to be educated on why to spend on prevention programs rather than treatment. “The funders were there and we showcased preventative programs, how they work and how prevention is cheaper in the long run.”

Patrick J. Kennedy speaks during the 10th annual South Florida Behavioral Health Conference at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale on May 21, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Cost and Access Barriers

Cost has been a barrier to getting mental health services for many Floridians. More than one-third of practicing psychologists do not take insurance, according to the 2024 Practitioner Pulse Survey released by the American Psychological Association. Kennedy and Cannon said they are working to convince insurers of the long-term benefits of providing people access to care. “The message,” she said, “is that prevention is powerful.”

Conclusion

The shift towards prevention in mental health treatment is crucial, especially in states like Florida that are experiencing a mental health crisis. By addressing the root causes of mental health issues, providing early intervention, and making services more accessible, it’s possible to reduce the number of people entering crises. It requires a multifaceted approach that involves policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, and community leaders. The long-term benefits of prevention, including reduced healthcare costs and improved outcomes, make it a worthwhile investment.

FAQs

• Q: What is the current state of mental health in Florida?
  A: Florida is experiencing a mental health crisis, with a shortage of beds for children in crisis and a significant number of children not receiving necessary care.
• Q: What is the focus of mental health advocates in Florida?
  A: Mental health advocates in Florida are focusing on prevention, recognizing that early intervention is key to reducing the number of people entering mental health crises.
• Q: What factors contribute to mental health issues in young people?
  A: Factors include social media, sports betting, pornography, commercialized marijuana, family violence, mental illness, addiction, and adverse childhood experiences.
• Q: How can accessing mental health services be improved?
  A: Creating an electronic directory of behavioral health resources, increasing reimbursement rates for behavioral health professionals, and making services more accessible in schools and community centers can help.
• Q: Why is prevention important in mental health?
  A: Prevention is important because it can reduce the severity of mental health issues, decrease the need for acute care, and is cost-effective in the long run.