Maryland’s behavioral health system for youth is under strain; families face long wait times, provider shortages, and fragmented care. A new roadmap from the Maryland Department of Health aims to tackle these challenges head-on with targeted strategies and statewide collaboration.
In a Maryland Department of Health (MDH) press release, the Department released a new roadmap aimed at strengthening the state’s behavioral health system for children, youth, and families. Developed in partnership with the Maryland Coalition of Families and Manatt Health, the plan outlines key strategies to improve access to care, expand the behavioral health workforce, and better coordinate services across systems.
The roadmap comes in response to growing concern over gaps in behavioral health services for young Marylanders and their families, particularly those with complex needs. It identifies five priority areas: workforce and provider capacity, crisis services, care coordination, youth-specific needs, and family support.
From the press release:
Developed with input from families through focus groups and public engagement, this roadmap serves as a practical, data-driven guide to creating a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable public behavioral health system for children, youth, and families in Maryland, said Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Alyssa Lord.
The call for reform is driven by alarming data:
-
30% of Maryland middle and high school students report feeling sad or hopeless.
-
The state loses more than 100 young people annually to drug and alcohol overdoses.
-
Youth behavioral health patients face median emergency department boarding times of 33.7 hours.
-
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Marylanders aged 10 to 24.
The plan recognizes the importance of tailoring solutions to community needs and aligning state and local efforts.
