Call for Participants!
Help Solidify the Role of Wellness as an Integral Component of Mental Health Support in WA State
The Opportunity
Traditional definitions of what qualifies—and can be billed--as mental and behavioral healthcare have been narrow. One of the aims of the CARE project (a collaboration among Washington State Health Care Authority, UW CoLab/Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and community leaders across the state) is to expand the definition of what qualifies as mental health treatment, taking a more holistic view to include wellness services such as mindfulness practices, traditional cultural practices, and arts or sports integrated services, among others.
We currently have an opportunity to solidify the role of wellness as an integral component of mental health support.
How You Can Help
The CARE project is working to expand the definition of what qualifies as and can be billed as mental health services. We have a unique opportunity to stress test boundary-pushing services with HCA’s quality assurance department.
We’re seeking examples that will help illustrate this expanded view of mental health and wellness treatment. We need your ideas!
Is there a service you’ve experienced or heard about that may contribute to mental wellness that you would like to see expanded in WA State? Please share your ideas with us via the simple, 10-minute survey linked below.
What is Mental Wellness?
“Activity and Creativity, Growth and Nourishment, Rest and Rejuvenation, and Connection and Meaning ”
“Encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose”
What are ‘Wellness Services”?
Wellness services are evidence-based for improving mental health and well-being and may include but are not limited to:
Traditional spiritual and cultural practices such as drumming circles and mindfulness groups;
Youth activities that promote creativity, inclusion and self-reflection such as theatre, hip hop, and sports with socioemotional integration;
Information and support groups aimed at supporting helpful mindsets and skills such as validation and caring listening.
Background
The CARE project is a collaboration among Washington State Health Care Authority, UW CoLab/Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and community leaders across the state.
The CARE project envisions a mental and behavioral health service system with vastly expanded access to services that provide immediate therapeutic benefit via the rapid expansion of wellness services delivered by certified practitioners with lived and cultural expertise.
CARE was launched in 2022 to help address workforce shortages and the need for expanding access to culturally responsive child mental and behavioral health services. Years 1 and 2 of the project were focused on planning, design, and piloting training products. Now in Year 3, we are moving into building infrastructure and implementation.
One of our first tasks in Year 3 is to collect examples of Wellness Services via the community survey linked above.
Questions?
Contact at Mariam Haris at mharis@uw.edu.