Coverage

We support a model of health care coverage that recognizes mental health as being equally important as physical health and that is designed to deliver the right mental health and addiction care at the right time, and in the right setting.

Expanding the mental health workforce

Many people in the United States — particularly those in rural and historically underserved communities — live in areas with shortages of full-time clinicians, especially those who accept insurance.

We support policies that increase the size, linguistic capabilities, and diversity of the mental health workforce to meet the needs of all populations. Learn how Kaiser Permanente is helping grow the mental health care workforce.

School-based services

We support policies that provide school personnel and students with access to effective mental health education, training, and evidence-based resources.

We also support efforts to work with families, schools, and communities to break cycles of trauma and prevent adverse childhood experiences — potentially traumatic events, such as physical and emotional abuse, that occur before a child turns 18.

Crisis services

We support policies that expand crisis services for people experiencing serious mental health episodes and the acute effects of addiction.

These policies include funding state crisis-response teams and 24/7 crisis-support services to prevent emergency department and medical inpatient holds.