This content was created by Dr. Jameca Cooper. This content was uploaded by Dr. Jameca Cooper. This is a YouTube video titled "5 Things That Can Fix Our Broken Mental Health System" (published 2023-11-28) featuring Dr. Jameca Cooper speaking directly to camera. In a single-speaker informational/responsive clip she outlines five reforms to improve mental healthcare: (1–2) expanded access via broader insurance coverage (no arbitrary session limits) and affordable telehealth, (3) more school-based counselors and improved screening, (4) stronger public education about mental health, and (5) better training for culturally competent providers. The clip is an educational commentary by Dr. Cooper on systemic changes to mental health services.
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I'm Dr. Jameca Cooper. I've been a psychologist for over 20 years. These are the 5 things that I feel like can help to fix this broken mental health system that we have. Number 1 and number 2, it's all about access. We need to make it easier for individuals to receive treatment for mental health. That means insurance companies expanding coverage. What's with this limit of 5, 8, or 10 sessions when we all know that mental health is a huge issue? There should be unlimited coverage of sessions for counseling, for therapy, for family counseling, for couples therapy. Access part number 2: telehealth should be a no-brainer at this point. We all know because we've lived through it, we can receive help and services from the comfort of our own home or workplace. Telehealth should be affordable and an option for everyone receiving coverage for mental health issues. Number 3, we have to have more counselors and better mental health screening in schools. Why? Because that is where we see a lot of mental health issues. It all starts from an early age. We can't assume that everyone can go to a private doctor, community health center, or psychiatrist in their area. One, because it may be hard to find, there may not be any openings. We have to do better in the school systems of providing a way for students in school to also be identified as having issues, and then if they have issues, to get them help. Number 4, we have to do a better job as a country regarding education, public education about community health, about mental health. We have to do that. Everyone in this country should have a really good grasp and understanding of mental health issues, what it looks like, what it feels like, and how to get help or refer someone else for help. That's our job as a community, to educate the public, and I feel like we haven't done that. And the last thing is we have to have better training. We have to have culturally competent providers, counselors, therapists, psychiatrists. What does cultural competence mean? It means that when individuals from various backgrounds come in, that all practitioners have a at least a basic understanding of who they are, what communities they come from, what their unique issues might be. It's not enough just to be trained in doing therapy because we've all done that if we're a psychologist or counselor, but you need to know the people that you're working with. You have to have a good understanding of who they are, how their lives might be both similar and different to you. We need providers that understand people and therefore can do a better job of helping them, can therefore refer them for other services in a much more efficient and effective way. My 5 things. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm Dr. Jameca Cooper.
