Improving Treatment Engagement of Individuals with Behavioral Health Disorders

Course overview

In 2023, only 47.1% of U.S. adults aged 18 or older with a mental health condition received mental healthcare. For those with substance use disorders, the number receiving treatment was even lower at 7.3% (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2024). Simply making treatment available does not guarantee that individuals will seek it. Many individuals with mental health and substance use disorders are not accessing treatment. We urgently need strategies to effectively engage clients, especially those facing barriers to engagement. Some major systemic barriers include the accessibility and proximity of services and the high costs of care. Additionally, treatment providers play a significant role in determining how engaged their clients are (Kazdin, 2017).