Deploying a Collaborative Telemental Healthcare Model in Oklahoma

As the American mental health epidemic grows more deadly, mitigating the issue is a top priority nationwide. Numerous factors are driving the epidemic, not least of which are the widespread barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Healthcare stakeholders are developing and piloting various approaches to address the thorny access problem, including some that involve virtual care technologies.In Oklahoma, a new model of care is bringing together behavioral health clinics and law enforcement using telehealth tools.The mental health crisis in Oklahoma requires urgent attention. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 22.8 percent of adults in the United States were living with a mental illness in 2021.