Mental illness is one of America’s silent tragedies. In 2019, nearly 20% of the U.S. population experienced a mental illness episode. Mental health experiences impact how people think, feel, or behave. Mental health experiences include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other behavior challenges. How prevalent are mental health experiences?   Depression is the third most common cause of U.S. hospitalizations for 18-44 year old citizens. However, not all mental health experiences are visible or acknowledged due to social stigma. Why is mental health engagement so important? Mental health experiences often occur early in life. 75% of mental health experiences occur by age 24 and 50% occur by age 14. Even more alarming, impulse control and anxiety disorders begin by age 11, substance abuse by age 20, and depression by 30 years of age.

How are mental health experiences treated? In today’s fast paced world where ideas are shared within seconds, navigating mental health challenges can be daunting. Political strife, a global pandemic, and social injustice have created overwhelming mental health burdens. The gauntlet of emotions can be overwhelming for citizens experiencing mental health challenges,. Fortunately, evidenced based treatment options range from counseling to inpatient management to medication support. Unfortunately, Covid-19 exposed mental health inequities.

Is there a disparity in mental health treatment? Each year, ethnic minorities face disparities with mental health treatment options. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ethnic minorities are less likely to have mental health access, less likely to use mental health community resources, more likely to use emergency rooms, and receive lower quality care. The financial impact on state budgets is significant. According to research, eliminating health inequities could reduce U.S. medical costs by $229 billion.

Covid 19 created unheralded stressors for various communities. LGBTQ communities encountered isolation due to Covid-19. LGBTQ communities experienced a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and suicide due to increased Covid-19 isolation. African American households were also “hit” extremely hard by Covid-19 economic downturns. Because of Covid 19, African Americans faced increased risks of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide, as well as poor physical health. Latino communities were disproportionately affected by Covid 19 mental health experiences. including grief, anxiety, and depression. During the pandemic, Latinos experienced suicidal thoughts, grief, anxiety and depression but couldn’t find community mental health resources.

How does Bh8ve Foundation Solve issue? As society becomes more transparent about mental health support, Bh8ve Foundation’s strategy is removing barriers impeding mental health access. Bh8ve Foundation removes barriers by delivering mental health training and resources.

If someone accidentally fell and bruised their arm, a witness would probably provide assistance. If the same person experienced a mental health experience, few witnesses would rush to provide support. Bh8ve Foundation provides mental health resources and training to offer interim support until professional assistance arrives or is engaged.

Bh8ve Foundation is a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training partner. MHFA allows communities to assess suicide risk, listen nonjudgmentally, give reassurance, and encourage support strategies. From White House support to Perspectives in Public Health, increased mental health training demand is increasing. Georgia’s Project Aware increases mental health awareness for school-aged youth and connects children, youth, and families with appropriate mental health services.

Bh8ve Foundation partners with local academic partners, non-profits, and corporate partners to educate communities on mental health training and support. Bh8ve Foundation targets specific stakeholders to also address social inequities. The importance of a specific strategy allows Bh8ve Foundation to emphasize mental health equity while also assuring communities receive mental health assistance.