03-25-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

Better technology is an imperative for behavioral health

Behavioral health systems should focus on how care is delivered, not how billing departments prefer to capture it.

[Photo: Getty Images]

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The state of behavioral health tells two different stories.

On one hand, the crisis is deepening: 62% of U.S. adults now experience mental health challenges, up from 44% just a decade ago. Severe mental illness has climbed from 10% to 15% over that same period, according to third-party research commissioned by Qualifacts (research not available publicly).

On the flip side, there are signs of genuine progress. The stigma around seeking care is finally lessening, with treatment rates rising from 45% to 52% between 2014 and 2024. Mental health and substance use spending increased 55% from 2015 to 2022, adding 170,000 critical jobs to the behavioral health workforce during that time, according to the same research.

That’s not to say the industry is “fixed.” We’re still facing staffing shortages, clinician burnout, and ongoing hurdles in proving outcomes. However, if you look at the growing investment, the increased willingness to seek care, and the expanding workforce, we’re at least trending in a better direction.

At the core of these hurdles is technology. Behavioral healthcare growth has outpaced technology, and that gap is becoming the........

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