The Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Report
The Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Report
Commission Members
2024 Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Report
The 2024 Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Report provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of mental health and behavioral health services across Indiana. This report highlights critical gaps in services, outlines key achievements, and offers actionable recommendations to improve mental health care statewide. Learn about the infrastructure, workforce development, and special populations addressed in this comprehensive report.
Key Sections of the Report
Infrastructure & Reimbursement
Progress on the 988 Crisis Response System and Expansion of CCBHCs
Indiana has made progress in building crisis response systems like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. However, more work is needed to ensure these services reach every community. Additionally, the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) is helping to transform mental health care in Indiana by providing integrated, comprehensive services.
Learn More About:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)
- Reimbursement and Parity
Workforce Development
Building the Workforce for the Future
Indiana faces a critical shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural and underserved areas. The Commission recommends expanding workforce training programs and offering financial incentives to recruit and retain behavioral health professionals.
Learn More About:
- Addressing Workforce Shortages
- Incentives for Mental Health Professionals
- APRN Integration
Special Populations
Addressing the Needs of Children, Older Adults, and Individuals with Disabilities
The report identifies specific challenges faced by vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Each group requires targeted interventions to ensure they receive the care they need.
Learn More About:
- Youth and Adolescent Mental Health
- Older Adults and Behavioral Health
- Mental Health Services for Individuals with IDD
Crisis Services and Jail Diversion
Reducing Incarcerations Through Better Crisis Services
Indiana is working to reduce the number of individuals with mental health conditions who are incarcerated by expanding crisis intervention services and jail diversion programs. These efforts aim to ensure that individuals in crisis receive treatment rather than being funneled into the criminal justice system.
Key Initiatives Include:
- Jail Diversion Programs
- Crisis Response and Intervention Services
- Expanding 988 and Community Support
Financial Sustainability
Securing Long-Term Funding for Behavioral Health Services
The report emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable funding model to ensure that Indiana’s mental health services are adequately supported. This includes identifying new funding streams and ensuring that services remain financially viable.
Learn More About:
- Long-term Financial Planning
- Funding Models for Mental Health Care
- Legislative Recommendations
Continuing the Commission
Ensuring Ongoing Oversight and Advocacy
The Behavioral Health Commission’s work must continue beyond the current cycle to ensure that Indiana continues to make progress in improving mental health care. The report calls for the establishment of permanent oversight and ongoing advocacy.
At Mental Health America of Indiana, our mission is to promote mental health for all Hoosiers, and we are deeply committed to advocating for systemic change that ensures equitable access to quality behavioral health services across the state. Our goal is to be a driving force behind the transformative recommendations outlined in the 2024 Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Report.
This report highlights areas where Indiana’s mental health system must improve—ranging from expanding the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), to addressing workforce shortages, ensuring mental health parity, and enhancing services for vulnerable populations like youth, older adults, and those with serious mental illness.
We are dedicated to:
Sharing the report with our networks: We are actively disseminating the findings and recommendations of the Commission Report to raise awareness among our stakeholders, partners, and the broader community.
Advocating for the report’s recommendations: We encourage policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to support the report’s vision for a stronger, more sustainable behavioral health system in Indiana.
By working together, we can ensure that the Commission’s recommendations are implemented, bringing us closer to a future where every Hoosier has access to the mental health care they need. Join us in advocating for the change Indiana’s behavioral health system needs—because mental health is health.
Read the full report and take action today!