Healey-Driscoll Administration Raises Awareness for Youth Mental Health Services

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Raises Awareness for Youth Mental Health Services 

Community Behavioral Health Centers offer 24/7 mental health crisis care at 30 locations across Massachusetts. 

 

NEW BEDFORD – Today, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Healey-Driscoll administration highlighted the early successes of Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) at a visit to Child and Family Services (CFS) in New Bedford. CFS is one of 30 new centers offering 24/7 mental health crisis care across Massachusetts, via a nation-leading Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCI) model. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, including young people, can walk into a CBHC or call a crisis evaluation team to their location and be seen by within an hour – no appointment or insurance needed. 

During the visit, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll heard from young people, family members, and clinicians about the innovative CBHC model and the impact that access to care has on people’s lives. 

“Young people are hurting, both in Massachusetts and across the country. We hear it from young people, their families, and their teachers. We hear it from providers who work with youth. And we see it in the statewide and nationwide data,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we’ve made it a priority to expand mental health supports in schools and communities across our state. We want young people and their families to know: you don’t have to go to the ER during a mental health crisis. Instead, visit your local Community Behavioral Health Center.” 

“We want to get to a point where every young person and every family knows they are not alone – and that they can get help in their communities when they need it, no health insurance needed,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “So many families that are struggling have no idea about this great resource, right in their backyards. Community Behavioral Health Centers can be life-changing for young people, and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure they know about it.” 

CBHCs launched statewide in January 2023 and in the first year of operation served more than 24,000 youth and adolescents through around 12,000 crisis evaluations and 183,000 outpatient visits. Over 90 percent of all youth crisis evaluations occurred in person, including 25,000 in-school CBHC outpatient sessions. CFS New Bedford consistently provided the highest rate of school-based CBHC services, which Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll heard about during their conversation with patients and providers. 

Emerging data indicates that CBHCs are having a positive impact on the state’s youth mental health care system. In just one year, Massachusetts has seen a dramatic drop in the number of kids waiting in emergency rooms for a mental health bed to become available. According to survey data from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association (MHA), the number of youth “boarding” in hospitals has dropped by 40 percent since the first five months of 2023 and 63 percent since the same period in 2022. 

“Too many young people spend days languishing in a hospital hallway, waiting to get support for the mental health crisis crippling their lives. That’s unacceptable,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh. “We’ve worked hard to provide alternatives to the emergency room for these kids, and it’s really rewarding to see those efforts paying off. Our work is not done but it’s clear CBHCs provide a strong alternative to the ER for mental health crises, and we hope to see these trends continue as CBHC usage grows.” 

 “The professionals at Community Behavioral Health Centers know just how to help people experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Assistant Secretary for MassHealth Mike Levine. “They offer immediate help for people of all ages, regardless of insurance. Our goal is that everyone in the state knows that these crisis services are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week in communities across Massachusetts.” 

The CBHC model was created with an intentional focus on youth services and experience. All centers are required to have separate waiting rooms for young people and adults, as well as child-trained clinicians on staff. CBHCs make peer mentors available to patients and their families, for help with decision making and peer-to-peer support. The launch of CBHCs also introduced Youth Crisis Stabilization Services (YCCS) to the state – a less restrictive, more comfortable alternative to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for youth and adolescents. These are separate from the Adult Crisis Stabilization Units that are offered at CBHCs throughout the state.  

“CBHCs are core to the Commonwealth’s vision for quality, accessible services.  CBHCs offer mental health crisis services and innovative treatment close to home,” said Lydia Conley, President and CEO, Association for Behavioral Healthcare. “As the data show, many children and adults do not need to go to hospital emergency departments for help. CBHCs can help them in a comfortable community location or even in their own home.” 

“CBHCs represent monumental progress and a much-needed lifeline for the entire Massachusetts healthcare system – especially its youngest patients,” said Steve Walsh, President and CEO, Massachusetts Health & Hospitals Association. “First and foremost, they are providing children with specialized behavioral healthcare close to home. And in turn, they are taking pressure off our hospitals and opening up precious care beds at a time when capacity remains especially tight. We are grateful for the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll administration and all the elected officials who have made this bold idea a reality.” 

Community Behavioral Health Centers are expected to maintain relationships with nearby school districts. Some, including Child and Family Services New Bedford, offer outpatient services directly in schools.  

“Child and Family Services was founded 180 years ago to care for the orphans of whalers lost at sea, and today it continues to serve Greater New Bedford residents in need,” said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. “Thanks to the reliable support of the Healey Administration, CFS is now a leading provider of mental services at a time when the region’s mental health challenges are pervasive and ever changing.” 

“The behavioral health roadmap and creation of the CBHC’s has fundamentally changed the way mental health care is delivered and we have seen the positive impact firsthand in our community,” said Wendy Botelho, CEO of Child and Family Services. “When I meet a client receiving services and learn that they were able to get that help immediately, I am grateful that Child & Family is a part of a working system that can deliver this.” 

Today’s discussion is part of a larger effort from the Healey-Driscoll administration to address the growing mental health challenges among young people in Massachusetts and nationwide. Yesterday, Governor Healey announced a $13 million investment to expand the BRYT student mental health program. Governor Healey’s FY25 budget proposal features several key behavioral health investments, including a $17 million expansion of behavioral health treatment capacity, the creation of a $10 million pilot program for youth with the most acute mental health needs, and a $3.6 million expansion of school-based behavioral health centers.