Virginia Mental Health Access Program

By Hanna Schweitzer, MPH
VMAP Program Administrator

The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) is a statewide initiative that helps healthcare providers take better care of children and adolescents with mental health conditions. The VMAP model includes focused training, consultation and referral services designed to increase the capacity of child and adolescent Primary Care Providers (PCPs) to treat and respond to mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

VMAP’s goal is to connect child and adolescent psychiatrists to PCPs so that youth in need across the Commonwealth of Virginia can receive and benefit from mental health services. As of February 2022, there was a new weekly and monthly call volume record at 186 calls total and over 40 calls per week. VMAP has 709 total providers registered and 236 practices with providers registered throughout the Commonwealth.

 VMAP is committed to reducing barriers to care and improving access for Virginia’s underserved youth. VMAP ensures that more children have access to providers who are better able to screen, diagnose,  manage and treat mental health. VMAP is committed to developing and implementing strategies that:

1. Provide access to mental health services for youth in underserved areas;
2. Provide resources and learning opportunities for primary care providers who serve these youth; and
3. Develop program goals and objectives that are inclusive to the challenges faced by underserved youth. 

Here is what families and providers are saying about VMAP:

“I have two young adult children, both with mental health issues.  About four years ago when I went to my pediatrician to ask for help for my oldest child who was in significant mental health distress, I was met with a completely blank look and just given a referral.  It took me almost a year to find care for my child, and I had to do it alone. This year, I went to that same pediatrician because my other child was having mental health issues. This time, the pediatrician knew exactly what to do and helped me right away! I just wanted to let you know that what you all are doing is working!”

“I called VMAP for a kid with terrible trauma, PTSD, and anxiety – kinda trying to make sure that I had the right combination of meds that wouldn’t cause activating symptoms as I start her on anxiety medication after she’s already been through months and months of trauma-informed CBT. It was very helpful.”

Collaboration in healthcare has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce client overlap and burden on healthcare professionals. As a result, VMAP is partnering with the Unite Virginia network to build a robust mental health provider resource and referral network that will not only support VMAP’s care navigation services, but the entire Unite Virginia network and state community partners.

VMAP is currently addressing equity within the mental health system in Virginia. Access to healthcare, particularly mental healthcare, is not equitable across all racial and ethnic groups. The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports “racial and ethnic minority groups in the US are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to use community mental health services, more likely to use emergency departments, and more likely to receive lower quality of care.”⁽¹⁾

VMAP acknowledges that the long history of racism in the United States and in the Commonwealth of Virginia adversely impacts mental and behavioral health among youth of color. As a result, VMAP is committed to decreasing youth mental health disparities. VMAP regularly examines the data collected to monitor and evaluate progress in ensuring equitable service across racial/ethnic groups. Conversations will continue to take an honest look at the current approach, identify where current gaps exist and develop strategies to address these areas.

Recent trends in children’s mental health point to several areas of concern that can inform future programmatic investments to improve the health and well-being of children and their families. The Virginia Mental Health Access Program is committed to reaching all children and adolescents in Virginia by working with patients, families, and healthcare providers to provide critical mental health support.

Reference

U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. Office of Minority Health. Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Accessed July 1, 2020. https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/Content.aspx?ID=9447&lvl=2&lvlid=12