April 29, 2020
Contact: Nadia Chait

Survey Shows Urgent Needs of Behavioral Health Sector Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Demand for Services Rising while Provider’s Financial Sustainability is Threatened 

(New York) The Coalition for Behavioral Health today released the results of a survey of their membership that provides key insights into behavioral health at this critical moment. The survey was conducted online from April 15 to April 24. Respondents were member agency CEOs or their designees. One-third of Coalition member agencies responded. Estimates were calculated based on those who responded, using standard statistical techniques.

Community-based behavioral health providers are stepping up to continue providing their essential services during the pandemic. Most programs rapidly transitioned any service that can be delivered by telehealth to telehealth: 82% of programs are being delivered by telehealth now, on average.

“The behavioral health sector stepped up at this unprecedented time to help our communities,” said Amy Dorin, President & CEO of The Coalition for Behavioral Health. “These essential workers are continuing to go to work every day, as we see a huge rise in the need for behavioral healthcare.”

Essential behavioral health workers continue to provide services face-to-face for programs that can’t be provided via telehealth. Programs have a median of 3 sites still open for face-to-face services, including residential and congregate care programs. Programs are also providing long-acting injectable medications and other in-person care.

Despite the essential nature of the work, behavioral health providers do not necessarily have the supplies to keep staff and clients safe. Providers need more than 180,000 pieces of PPE, including 62,000 disposable masks, 40,000 reusable masks, and 82,000 pairs of gloves. Providers have struggled to purchase these necessary supplies and have faced weeks long shipping and customs delays for what they have been able to obtain.

Over 3,000 essential staff are working in-person at programs, heroes who are continuing to come to work every day to provide healthcare. This comes at an immense personal cost. For responding members 17 essential workers died through 4/24 from possible or confirmed COVID-19 illness, and 800 have COVID-19 symptoms or are caring for family members with COVID-19 symptoms. At least 59 clients have died through 4/24 from possible or confirmed COVID-19 illness.

In addition to the human toll, the behavioral health sector is also facing incredible financial threats from COVID-19. Individual agencies have lost from $45,000 to $2.4 million in revenue since the state of emergency was declared. Based on those who responded, we estimate total losses to the sector of over $63 million. Providers have significant increased costs from purchasing technology for staff and clients, buying PPE, and adding additional cleanings, resulting in an average cost of $311,000. We estimate a total cost for responding agencies of over $32.8 million. 21% of organizations have already had to furlough or lay off some staff.

All of these challenges are happening as New Yorkers face an incredible need for behavioral health care. 40% of providers report an increase in demand from new clients, and 73% report an increase in demand from existing clients. 21% of providers report that the current demand for services exceeds their capacity. Our providers serve the communities that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19: 36% of clients are Black, and 33% are Latinx. These communities will face substantial behavioral health challenges in the coming weeks and months, with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and substance use all rising.

The State and the City must stand up for the behavioral health sector at this time. These essential workers need support as they serve New Yorkers every day. New Yorkers who are dealing with a challenge not seen in our lifetimes, and the rising anxiety, depression and substance use that unfortunately come with this, need behavioral healthcare.

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About The Coalition for Behavioral Health

The Coalition for Behavioral Health serves New York’s behavioral health community by providing policy, advocacy, training and technical assistance to more than 100 community-based behavioral health providers. Our membership serves over 600,000 individuals annually, providing mental health and substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services.