Nearly 60 million Americans — that’s almost one-quarter of the population — have a diagnosable mental health condition. Yet mental health care is not treated with the same urgency or importance as physical health care. This disparity leaves millions struggling to access the support they need. That’s where the concept of mental health parity comes in. Why do mental and behavioral health challenges continue to take a back seat to physical diagnoses? And what can we do to change that?

How KVC Defines Mental Health Parity

As an organization dedicated to the mental health and wellbeing of children, families and individuals, KVC is passionate about mental health parity. Here, we know that mental health care is health care. Our mental wellbeing should receive the same resources and attention as physical health care. Chad Anderson, KVC’s Chief Clinical Officer, has dedicated his career to working toward parity. 

Chad Anderson, KVC’s Chief Clinical Officer

“We want to ensure that mental health and addiction are treated like physical health conditions,” says Anderson. “We really want to change the narrative around mental health treatment.”

What is mental health parity? It’s the principle that mental health care should be just as accessible, affordable, and valued as physical health care. This means equal access to treatment, timely care, fair insurance coverage, and the removal of stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

The Disparity of Mental Health Care vs. Physical Health Care

For Anderson, the issue of mental health parity hits at a personal level. When seeking a therapist for his son, he found what was offered in-network through insurance had limitations. He was met with narrow appointment time offerings and not enough options for therapists. The idea of short-term therapy shocked Anderson, as it is not an effective way of treating many mental or behavioral health condition. “You don’t open a person’s abdomen as a surgeon and not sew them back up,” he explains by way of example. “That’s dangerous.”

To understand mental health parity, it can help to consider the last time you sought medical care for a chronic condition, for yourself or a loved one. Chad uses diabetes as an example. If you have diabetes, you can generally see a physician as often as needed for treatment and follow-up. Even if you’re pre-diabetic, your medical doctor will work closely with you to prevent you from becoming diabetic. Yet when it comes to mental health, many people can’t access care until they’re already in crisis. Considering mental illness can be just as life-threatening as diabetes if untreated, this disparity needs to be addressed.

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

Mental health parity is not a new concept in federal law. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was passed in 2008 to “prevent group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide mental health or substance use disorder benefits from imposing less favorable benefit limitations on those benefits than on medical/surgical benefits.” This active federal law was passed 17 years ago to prevent disparity in mental health coverage. However, many (if not most) group health plans and health insurance issuers do not abide by it.

“The law is in place; it’s just not being enforced.” This law focuses on provisions for insurance providers who already have benefits for mental health or substance use disorders. However, all insurance providers are required by law to provide these benefits per the Affordable Care Act.

Limited Access to Mental Health Professionals

While insurance coverage is a significant challenge for mental health parity, another key aspect of the issue is a shortage of mental health professionals available to provide treatment and other mental health services. Anderson points out that while staffing is important, it needs to be addressed through parity. Mental health professionals are often underpaid and under-supported for such an intense, stressful field of work. “When we see mental health care the same way we do physical health care, then our mental health care providers can have livable wages,” says Anderson.

Reducing Mental Health Stigma

Historically, mental health conditions have faced significant stigma compared to physical health ailments. Our communities have seen broadening acceptance of mental and behavioral health challenges in recent years. Particularly, since the pandemic and loneliness epidemic brought the importance of mental health care to light. “COVID allowed us to tap into the reality that, collectively, we’re really in need of mental health treatment,” says Anderson. Despite the heavy stigma around mental health, people are starting to have open conversations about their mental well-being and desire for access to care.

While mental health has become less stigmatized in recent years, the stigma still exists. “A lot of it has to do with the gravity of the situation, and a lot of it has to do with education,” says Anderson. Reducing the stigma requires both expanding education on the importance of mental health care and improving access to treatment. With suicide rates hitting an all-time high, we need to talk about anxiety and depression and normalize receiving care for mental health.

How KVC is Addressing Mental Health Parity

In addition to advocates like Anderson lobbying for mental health parity, KVC is doing our part every day to create real change and ensure equitable mental health care for those who need it most. This is why so many of our services center around youth in crisis, whether that be behavioral health issues, traumatic experiences or loss of familial stability.

One way we’re advancing mental health parity is by opening new hospitals dedicated to mental health care for children and adults. With so many mental health crises landing people in emergency rooms, the need for specialized facilities that focus on mental health emergencies—rather than medical ones—has never been greater.

Most recently, we partnered with Children’s Mercy Hospital to open a brand new mental wellness campus in Olathe, KS. Also underway, through a similar partnership with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is a new mental wellness campus in St. Louis. KVC endeavors like these directly serve those who need mental health care treatment. They provide immediate access to psychiatrists and therapists who can give youth and adults the urgent care they need. Clients are then discharged and connected with ongoing treatment resources in the community.

Caring for KVC Mental Health Professionals

Just as we seek to care for the mental health of children, families and individuals who seek support from KVC, we also need to prioritize the mental wellbeing of KVC staff. “We don’t have enough staff in this field, so we have to make sure we’re doing everything possible to help people stay in the field in a difficult practice,” says Anderson.

We’re working toward this in a number of ways. KVC supports all its employees with our EAP (Employee Assistance Program), which offers free therapy, up to six sessions per year. Furthermore, immediate family members can access this too, ensuring our team members’ families’ wellbeing too.

“I feel confident enough to ask for help,” says one KVC team member. “Mental health is really considered and I appreciate that.”

Flexibility can be key to mental health, and KVC supports its team members in achieving work-life balance. As one team member says, “From day one, it’s been clear that family comes first. The leadership and team members foster a supportive, flexible environment that prioritizes work-life balance. It’s rare to find a workplace where you feel valued not only for the work you do but as a person.”

KVC also has a dedicated KVC experience team that ensures a healthy, safe and supportive work environment. We encourage communication among supervisors and their staff and to utilize resources from Gallup to give our staff a voice in these conversations. Each business unit takes a unique approach. Groups coordinate wellness events and other opportunities to invest in mental health. 

Also key to mental health and wellbeing is the understanding that your work makes a difference. KVC strives to help all team members grasp the impact of their contributions. “The culture makes you feel connected as well as knowing you belong amongst the team,” says one team member. “KVC cares about their employees just as much as those they serve through care. The atmosphere is positive, therapeutic and you leave each day knowing you made an impact within the community and those we serve.”

Become Part of the Solution!

If you are interested in helping our nation achieve mental health parity, contact your representatives about new laws or ways to enact change on a local, state and federal level. For those who share our passion for mental health care and access to treatment for the most vulnerable populations in the United States, visit our careers page to find out more about opportunities to join the KVC team.