Mental health and well-being are an essential part of everyone’s life, yet all too often, we find that access to the care and resources needed can be difficult or even impossible. Social work professionals are uniquely positioned to support individuals and families by providing critical services in order to ensure they receive timely access to quality mental health care.

In this article, we will talk about how social workers can help bridge the gap between people’s needs for mental health treatment and their ability to get it — thereby improving lives everywhere. From intervention strategies that can reduce wait times for appointments with providers, increase collaboration with other professions such as psychologists and psychiatrists, deal with insurance companies for reimbursements, and advocate for policy-level changes at a state or national level — there are numerous options available to social workers when considering ways in which access can be improved. We hope you join us as we explore these options further!