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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Mental Health: Mental Health Benefits Legislation

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services

Last Reviewed: August 2012

Workgroups: Mental Health and Mental Disorders Workgroup

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends mental health benefits legislation as a way to improve financial protection and increase appropriate use of mental health services for people with mental health conditions. In particular, CPSTF recommends legislation that helps ensure there are no greater restrictions for mental health coverage than physical health coverage. CPSTF also found evidence that mental health benefits legislation is associated with increased access to care, increased diagnosis of mental health conditions, reduced prevalence of poor mental health, and reduced suicide rates. 

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Objectives related to this resource (5)

Increase the proportion of adults with depression who get treatment — MHMD‑05
Little or no detectable change
Increase the proportion of adults with serious mental illness who get treatment — MHMD‑04
Little or no detectable change
Increase the proportion of adolescents with depression who get treatment — MHMD‑06
LHI label
Target met or exceeded
Increase the proportion of children with mental health problems who get treatment — MHMD‑03
Baseline only
Increase the proportion of children and adolescents who get appropriate treatment for anxiety or depression — EMC‑D04
Developmental

Suggested Citation

1.

Guide to Community Preventive Services. (2012). Mental Health: Mental Health Benefits Legislation. Retrieved from https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/mental-health-mental-health-benefits-legislation