Op-Ed - The State of Mental Health from an LVHN Psychiatrist

Given the challenges of the last two years, it’s not surprising we find ourselves in a national mental health crisis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of depression and anxiety were four times higher during the first year of the pandemic compared to previous years. Nationally, the proportion of mental health-related emergency department visits among adolescents ages 12-17 increased 31% compared to pre-pandemic numbers. In the U.S., one person dies by suicide every 11 minutes.

We’ve witnessed this firsthand at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). Psychiatric emergency room visits rose 20% last year, and demand for outpatient behavioral health care has been extraordinary (and nationally up by 6%). 

The pandemic didn’t cause the crisis, but it definitely made it worse. We were already challenged well before COVID-19, for example, when years ago our state mental health hospitals shut down without adequate community resources to take their place. And it’s no secret there’s not only a regional but also a national shortage of mental health professionals to address the state of crisis. By 2030, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration predicts that the supply of adult psychiatrists could be short by 12,500.

Rising to this challenge has long been a priority for LVHN. We have a tremendous team of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, psychiatric nurses, therapists and other professionals, offering services that include inpatient, emergency, consultation, outpatient and virtual care options, and partial hospital and residential programs dedicated to behavioral health care. We’ve doubled our team of providers in the past five years and continue to enhance the number of behavioral health specialists integrated into our primary and specialty care practices. 

We transitioned many of our services overnight to virtual care during the shutdown to avoid disruptions. Because this worked so well, we’ve decided to continue offering virtual care to enhance access for those who need us. And with tomorrow’s needs in mind, we’re actively training the next generation of caregivers through our psychiatry residency program, child and adolescent fellowship, and a social work internship currently in development.  

While LVHN and other health systems rise to meet the ever-growing needs of our diverse populations, the challenge stretches well beyond just psychiatry. This is a community issue, and fixing it will take a village, as the saying goes. 

That is why we’ve partnered with more than 20 community-based organizations to address a myriad of behavioral health issues, supporting our goal of ensuring that those who need care have access to appropriate resources enabling them to heal and thrive. 

For example, we’ve placed licensed therapists in our local schools to provide individual, family and group therapy for K-12 students. The Valley Health Partners (VHP) Street Medicine team has provided a boots-on-the-ground approach to assess and treat our most at-risk community members to ensure they aren’t left behind.  

We’ve been proud to join with Lehigh County and Northampton County mental health programs for many decades, in reaching out to the most vulnerable among us. Additionally, we’re working diligently to tackle mental health concerns before they reach a boiling point. Last year alone, for example, LVHN screened more than 180,000 people for depression in our primary care and specialty practices. 

When I reflect on how far we’ve come in mental health care, I can’t help but feel a great sense of optimism for our future. As each day passes, mental illness seems less stigmatized. This gives me hope more people will seek help instead of suffering in silence. 

It’s crucial we continue to educate our community about mental health. It’s estimated nearly half of all Americans will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives. Odds are you, or someone close to you, will need help at some point.

Not everyone will need the same resources or level of intervention, and we must remember mental health care is full of nuance. For some, exercise, time in nature and mindfulness techniques, as we teach through our Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, may be enough to cope. Others may need the expertise of a trained therapist. Individuals experiencing more severe mental health issues may benefit from seeing their primary care doctor or a psychiatrist to discuss medication options. Those considering harming themselves, or someone else, should immediately call 911, their local country crises centers, visit the nearest ER or call 988 (the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Mental health is a complex and often daunting issue. Here at LVHN we’ve dedicated our lives to working for and with the community to enhance the region’s well-being—a calling we were compelled to answer to. We’re in mental health care because we care about mental health, and we care about you.

Edward Norris, MD, is Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Lehigh Valley Health Network.  This op-ed was originally published by The Morning Call on Aug. 1, 2022.