SAMHSA awards $73.2 million for mental health treatment, suicide prevention

Health systems committed to improving health outcomes in communities that have historically experienced barriers to care must build trust through consistency rather than one-time campaigns, states the Institute for Health Improvement. In addition, health system representatives should listen to residents’ experiences and be attuned to what systems have missed, including communication barriers, cultural norms, stigma or the conditions necessary for community members to speak truthfully. They should leverage community assets, including podcasts, local leaders, faith communities, community pharmacies, resident networks and informal communication channels to extend the work’s reach and relevance. They should implement shared ownership to support sustainability. Finally, health systems should be willing to adapt, instead of requiring communities to change how they access care, communicate or participate. (IHI article, 7/29/26)