Panel, Fireside Chat
Building Mental Health Resilience at Each Stage of Life
Milken InstituteMelissa Stevens, Cynthia Germanotta, Joshua Gordon, Howard Spivak, Nora Super, Jennifer Velez
- The global mental health crisis is projected to reach a tipping point driven by scientific breakthroughs, with one in four people expected to experience a crisis and 800,000 annual global suicide deaths, keeping suicide as the second leading cause of death for ages 15 to 29.
- The National Institute of Mental Health plans to continue funding research with over a billion dollars annually, while a full report on patient survey findings regarding depression and bipolar disorder is expected in early 2019, following data sharing at an FDA meeting on November 16.
- Genetic and biological research predicts tens of genomic locations linked to bipolar disorder and hundreds linked to depression, with early life stress and adverse childhood experiences expected to alter gene expression and accelerate biological aging, though novel treatments derived from these findings are not expected to be immediately available.
- Treatment models are anticipated to evolve through collaborative care between primary care and mental health professionals, with health systems shifting toward risk-based payment models that address social determinants like community poverty density and housing.
- Technology is expected to play a critical role in scaling solutions via apps and telepsychiatry, particularly for youth, though regulatory and reimbursement hurdles for cross-state care are anticipated to slow the adoption of technology-delivered services.
- Survey data indicates nearly half of respondents were significantly affected by depression or bipolar disorder in the last year and nearly 75% over their lifetime, with childhood onset expected to correlate inversely with the age of the responder.
- Resilience-building strategies are projected to focus on reversing negative biological changes through positive experiences, community resources, and school environments that include arts and social connection, while policies aim to reduce stigma in workplaces and healthcare settings.
- Research priorities identified by patients consistently emphasize understanding causation and treatment across all age, minority, and demographic groups, with a specific need to demonstrate the efficacy of new digital applications.
- Future expectations include a comprehensive understanding of gene-environment interactions through the BRAIN Initiative and a societal shift toward viewing mental health conditions as chronic illnesses rather than character weaknesses.