Recent study shows significant return on investment from The State of Indiana's investment in behavioral health crisis infrastructure; supports further investment in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Model to save lives and dollars.

LAFAYETTE, Ind., Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Valley Oaks Health, an Indiana Certified Community Mental Health Center serving the behavioral health and primary care needs of nearly 12,000 people each year, and a member of The Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers (ICCMHC) is excited to share the findings of a new study, conducted by Blue & Co., which showcases the tremendous value and impact that Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) have on individuals, families, and communities across the state of Indiana.

The study reveals a compelling return on investment (ROI), demonstrating that for every dollar spent on community mental health services, there is a significant and measurable benefit to society. These findings highlight the critical role CMHCs and crisis units play in improving mental health outcomes, reducing emergency room visits, preventing costly hospitalizations, major impact on jails, and supporting individuals in living healthier, more fulfilling lives.

The study, which involved a comprehensive analysis of data from CMHCs throughout Indiana, found that these centers are not only essential to mental well-being but also a smart investment in the long-term health of the state's economy. Key findings from the study include:

• Reduced healthcare costs: Community mental health centers help decrease the need for emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations, reducing overall healthcare spending.
• Crisis services vs. Inpatient hospitalization: Community mental health centers – crisis services have had an annualized savings of $80,867,002. This has been accomplished by providing timely, effective mental health interventions, reducing the need for more costly emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and law enforcement involvement. By focusing on community-based care, including mobile crisis units and 988, Indiana has been able to prevent costly institutional care and ensure individuals in crisis receive the appropriate support, ultimately lowering healthcare and criminal justice system expenses.
• Crisis services vs. Jail: Crisis services in Indiana have saved the state an annualized $45 million in jail services by diverting individuals with mental health crises away from jails and into appropriate care. Through programs like mobile crisis units and mental health treatment, individuals in need of mental health services receive timely interventions that prevent arrests and reduce the need for incarceration. This approach not only improves outcomes for those in crisis but also lowers the financial burden on the criminal justice system.

"The Haven at Valley Oaks has been crucial for Lafayette Police officers, de-escalating on-scene situations and connecting individuals with vital mental health and substance use resources, significantly improving outcomes. LPD fully supports the program due to their proven record of professional and effective support". - Lafayette Police Chief Scott Galloway

Local Impact:

• Valley Oaks Health has responded to 412 crisis calls from a 10-county region since re-engineering the program 10 months ago.
• 63% of their responses involved the mobile team with an on-site response time of 19 minutes.
• 24/7/365 Place to Go. This investment by the State of Indiana has allowed Valley Oaks Health to expand our crisis response services across our 9-county region. The Haven, based in Lafayette, is a 24/7 crisis center, staffed in partnership with Phoenix Paramedicine Peer Specialist who are specially trained to support people with urgent behavioral health needs.
• 24/7/365 Someone to Respond. Our mobile crisis teams are ready to roll out to any location to respond to people in need directly or in partnership with law enforcement, ERs, and social service providers.

This study serves as an important reminder of the value of prioritizing mental health and investing in the services that make a real difference in people's lives. Continued support from our State Administration for full implementation of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC model) will allow continued investment in our community mental health and crisis response systems.

Media Contact

Dan Arens, MBA, Valley Oaks Health, 1 7654466540, darens@valleyoaks.org, https://www.valleyoaks.org/ 

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/valley-oaks-health-shares-crisis-response-impact-data-and-report-to-support-investment-in-behavioral-health-crisis-response-systems-302363107.html

SOURCE Valley Oaks Health