Mental Health America just released a report called The State of Mental Health in America. Not surprisingly, the findings are bleak.
The bottom line: Mental health concerns are increasingly fast among Americans, both adult and child, and the amount of suicidal ideation our youngest and most vulnerable are experiencing is downright terrifying. (13% of youth reported experiencing serious thoughts of suicide!)
Further, several years ago findings suggested that 1 in 10 (10%) Americans were grappling with Substance Use Disorder; these most recent findings show that 18% are now struggling with addiction -- and these figures are often underreported due to persistent (unfair) social stigma. The real figure is likely much higher.
And yet, so few are able to access good, quality treatment that meets their needs at a price point they can actually afford. Insurance coverage is still extremely limited. Parents may be putting a second or third mortgage on their home to send their beloved son or daughter to a treatment center for a disease that isn't that individual's fault (despite what our culture might suggest!). We need to make sure that every episode of treatment truly counts and that post-discharge there is continued support and the ability to provide true data-driven early intervention so that fifth, sixth, and seventh treatments are a thing of the past.
We need innovation and we need it now. Thankfully, Pretaa is here to help.
Pretaa ensures that those who leave treatment are able to maintain their gains through passive oversight that relies on biometrics in addition to self-report. We also encourage those in recovery to create a community of supporters who are there to ensure a slip doesn't need to ever become a fall. And we are innovating every single day to do our part to stem the tide of this tragic epidemic that is claiming the lives of our children, our parents, our neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends daily.