March is Brain Health Awareness Month, and two new studies show that Americans are more worried about their mental health than their physical health. According to the latest Axios-Ipsos American Health Index, Americans now see poor mental health as one of the biggest threats to public health, coming in right behind obesity and the opioid epidemic. The report reveals that almost nine out of 10 people say they view mental health issues as a serious societal threat that now outranks access to firearms, cancer or Covid-19.
Yet, the treatment of mental health conditions differs vastly from those of more traditionally thought of as ‘serious’ illnesses. Dr. Nicole Siegfried, Chief Clinical Officer at Lightfully Behavioral Health, believes that’s one of the biggest shortcomings in mental health care and treatment in America. “When comparing a disease like cancer, for example, a doctor would never discharge a patient without an adequate and aggressive treatment plan in place—meanwhile, high acuity mental health patients get discharged from the hospital with little to no next steps, sometimes with a script and left to face the battle on their own,” Siegfried notes. The lack of resources for those struggling with suicidal thoughts creates a cycle of hospital readmission, which she set out to address. She points out that mental health must be treated as seriously as other major public health issues.
Mental Health Now Greater Threat Than Cancer
This is a similar message the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has spoken about over the years when he cites loneliness as a public health crisis. Last year he released an 85-page advisory declaring that loneliness is a new public health epidemic in the United States. “Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight—one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled and more productive lives,” Murthy states. “Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that’s healthier, more resilient, less lonely and more connected.” The report tracks a decline in social connections—especially among young people—and shows that half of adults are lonely, linking it to billions of dollars in health care costs. The findings show that loneliness is as bad as smoking and has profound effects on mental health, increasing the risks of heart disease, stroke and dementia. He cites the antidote to this crisis as a need to rebuild the social fabric of this country through social connections.
To learn more about the recent study, I spoke by email with Dr. Pooja Rupani, director of clinical operations, Northern California at Lightfully Behavioral Health who explained the findings that mental health is becoming a greater health threat than cancer. “In the light of the last few years and the collective trauma we have been through during the pandemic as a worldwide community, these results aren’t surprising,” she told me. She went on to say that the rising costs of living, the increasingly divisive political and cultural landscape in the U.S. are piling on greater stress than ever. “In fact, it is extremely encouraging that mental health is getting the attention it deserves through research publications and media coverage,” she insists. “The stigma around mental health challenges has been so debilitating for so long that for us to be talking about it freely and openly is the first step we can take to prioritizing mental well-being.”
I asked Rupani why mental health should be treated as seriously as other major public health issues. “Contrary to what many people believe, the phrase ‘mental health’ isn’t synonymous with having mental health difficulties or a serious psychiatric diagnosis,” she told me. “Loosely speaking, mental health is our emotional well-being that impacts our thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and even physical health.” Everyone has mental health, Rupani explains, and it impacts our relationships, performance at school or work, ability to handle small and big life challenges, ability to handle stress and ability to communicate effectively with others. “So if it impacts most areas of our lives, and we all have it, it stands to reason that it should be treated just like any other major public health issue,” she points out. “Granted that poor mental health may not be contagious in the same way as the flu, for example, however, it’s not just the person with mental health difficulties who struggles with the impact of it. Families, friends, neighbors, teachers and community members are all impacted when one of us is suffering.” She cites the huge economic costs of untreated mental health difficulties as a result of increasing suicide rates, a stressed out labor force, higher burn out rates and attrition, lower productivity and increased use of emergency rooms. One of the biggest things we can do as individuals, she suggests, is to recognize that we are on a spectrum of mental health and that seeking help is actually a sign of strength. She says that help can come in many forms—psychological or psychopharmacological therapy, simply talking to a friend or family member, engaging in activities that are energizing for the mind and body or giving back to your community by volunteering or mentoring.
How Employers Can Address The Mental Health Threat
Rupani believes that employers must be aware of the high prevalence of mental health challenges across all levels of employment, leading to high rates of burnout and staff attrition. “It isn’t enough anymore to have a ‘wellness day’ or staff ‘retreat’ alone to employ an energized, motivated workforce,” she asserts. “Many workplaces have started taking steps to address employee mental well-being by offering greater resources for support, flexible working conditions and increased discourse around mental health in the workplace. This is an encouraging start and more needs to be done so that these gains can be sustainably integrated into the overall workplace culture.” She adds that it’s important to ensure managers and supervisors have appropriate training on how to recognize signs of stress or burnout in their direct reports and the ability to have difficult conversations about it with staff. “Employers have to work from the top down to create a culture of safety in their organizations where employees at any level can freely access support without the fear of losing their job,” she concludes. “Company policies that prioritize a healthy work-life balance, social connection, culturally competent benefits and transparent communication can make a huge impact in being able to face this crisis together.”