Free community-based mental health screenings through Project Health allow underrepresented communities to gain access to behavioral healthcare.
Mental Health services have seen increased demand throughout the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the American Psychological Association in a November 2022 press release, the demand for treatment for trauma and stressor related disorders and substance use disorders has grown since the pandemic began. Seventy-nine percent of psychologists said they had seen an increase in the number of patients with anxiety disorders since the beginning of the pandemic, and 66% saw an increase in demand for treatment of depression. Despite more patients needing behavioral care, many are unable to receive the screenings, tests, and treatment they need due to healthcare access barriers.
In an effort to address the behavioral healthcare gap nationally, CVS Health announced it will enhance its free community-based behavioral health program through Project Health, the organization’s mental health screening service.
Project Health offers free, no insurance necessary health assessment screenings, such as tests for blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), glucose and total cholesterol screenings, and mental health screenings. These tests can help detect the risk for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Early detection can identify chronic illnesses before they become life-threatening and also reduce national healthcare dollars spent on these diseases.
Since 2006, Project Health has hosted free community events to keep communities healthy. Patients that attend have access to in-pharmacy assessments, mobile care units, and the Project Health mobile health application.
Behavioral health screening expands
Project Health events are hosted at CVS Pharmacy locations and at community organizations. CVS Health plans to host nearly 2,000 Project Health screening events across the U.S. in 2023 and add nearly 100 organizations as mobile unit hosts going forward. Health screening sites will now also offer Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) assessments to identify individuals who require additional evaluation for depression. Following the health screenings, participants can meet with a nurse practitioner who can provide referrals for treatment and advice for follow-up care.
“We continue to see a need for accessible mental health care across the country,” said Sheryl Burke, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our events now serve more communities than ever, tapping into our CVS Pharmacy footprint and a vast network of local organizations to host our mobile units and help ensure transportation is not a barrier to receiving health services.”
Project Health addresses healthcare gaps
Many communities face barriers to quality healthcare or lack access altogether due to factors including lack of insurance, transportation barriers, healthcare staffing shortages, etc. Project Health helps to bridge healthcare access gaps through accessible treatment locations, which allow individuals who would otherwise go without healthcare to get the services and treatment they need.
Project Health focuses on introducing accessible treatment locations in areas of significant need and to populations that have been historically under-resourced. In 2022, 82% of people who received care at a Project Health event identified as a race other than White/Caucasian, and 68% reported a household income below $50,000.
Last year, CVS provided $5.5 million dollars in free medical services, and hosted nearly 1,700 events. Project Health’s aims to increase the amount of people who are able to access mental and behavioral health services within communities that otherwise would not have access.