New Hampshire's 10-Year Mental Health Plan: A Comprehensive Look
In January 2019, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) unveiled a bold 10-Year Mental Health Plan aimed at transforming the state’s mental health system. This plan, developed with input from hundreds of stakeholders, addresses the needs of individuals and families across the continuum of care. It proposes innovative models to meet the evolving environment and increasing complexity of the mental health system.
Key Elements of the Plan
The plan focuses on providing access to a full continuum of care, including community education, prevention, early intervention, outpatient supports, step-up and step-down options, and crisis and inpatient services. It highlights the importance of addressing barriers to access, the social determinants of mental health, and the needs of special populations. Furthermore, it emphasizes enhanced school-based mental health and multiple alternatives to emergency department and psychiatric hospitalization.
Significant Funding Increases
Over the past six years, funding for mental health services in New Hampshire has significantly increased. In State Fiscal Year 2013, $97 million was allocated to mental health services. By 2019, these expenditures grew to nearly $164 million. This funding increase was accomplished in a bipartisan manner under Governors Hassan and Sununu, alongside the legislature. The plan includes further recommendations to sustain and enhance these investments, ensuring the state's mental health system continues to evolve and improve.
Challenges and Recommendations
Despite meaningful investments, significant challenges remain. The plan identifies these challenges and presents recommendations to address them. These include sustaining Medicaid fee increases, expanding mobile crisis services, enhancing regional delivery of mental health services, and increasing community education efforts. The plan also emphasizes the need for better integration of peer and natural supports throughout the mental health system.
A Vision for the Future
The plan envisions a robust and cohesive mental health system that respects the dignity and centrality of the whole person, empowers people, families, and communities, and reduces stigma. It aims to facilitate rapid access to a coordinated, high-quality array of localized services and supports for all through a centralized portal. By implementing this plan, New Hampshire aims to achieve improved access, coordination, quality, equity, and cost efficiency in mental health services.
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