World Mental Health Day: A Call for Global Mental Health Awareness
Co-authors: Tracy Patterson, BSN, RN, CCM and Michelle Turk, LMFT
Mental health isn’t just a conversation; it’s a cornerstone of healthcare. We recognize that true well-being means treating the whole person, both mind and body. Each year, World Mental Health Day reminds us of that truth — and this year’s theme, “Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies,” highlights how critical timely, compassionate care becomes when individuals and communities face crisis.
As a team of providers from across the U.S., we have seen firsthand how collective challenges – from natural disasters to public health emergencies, and community difficulties - can disrupt lives and take a toll on emotional and physical well-being. In those moments, easy access to high-quality care can significantly impact how quickly people recover. This is important because the ripple effects of mental health challenges extend far beyond individual lives — they touch families, workplaces, and entire communities.
According to the World Health Organization, one in five people affected by crisis will experience a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress1. But the truth is, we all experience moments that test our mental resilience, from personal loss and burnout to financial strain and uncertainty. However, there is one constant across every situation that can make a measurable difference: how timely people can access high-quality care.
Why Time to Treatment Matters
Every day without support can make healing harder. When people can connect to timely care, symptoms stabilize, recovery begins sooner, and stigma fades because help feels within reach. During emergencies or even in the middle of everyday stress, it can be a challenge for people to access high-quality mental health care. Those seeking care in traditional healthcare systems often face long wait times, fragmented care networks, and limited provider availability that can delay help when it’s needed most.
In a recent study, 42% of adults said they didn’t get needed mental health care because they couldn’t find a provider that was easy for them to get to an in-person visit 2. Among those who didn’t seek care, the most frequently cited barrier was difficulty getting time off work, making it difficult to find the time to travel or step away for appointments.
Rural communities face a significant shortage in mental health providers, making it even more difficult to get timely access to care. With limited numbers of psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers, many people travel long distances to get care or go without treatment entirely3. This is especially concerning given that approximately one in five adults living in rural areas experience mental illness, highlighting a significant gap in available support.
Virtual primary care (VPC) can help bridge gaps in access by connecting people to licensed professionals regardless of location. By reducing travel-related obstacles, broadening the reach of specialized services, and offering adaptable scheduling, it supports more equitable access to timely, high-quality mental health care.
The Transcarent Clinic: Whole-Person, Immediate Care
VPC is a part of our connected, clinician-led model built to care for the whole person here at Transcarent. Our care teams, including primary care physicians, behavioral health specialists, and therapists, closely collaborate to ensure that physical and emotional health are addressed together, making it easy for our Members to access timely and appropriate care.
When a Member reaches out through the Transcarent app, there’s no waiting months for an appointment or navigating confusing referral loops. Instead, Members can utilize our WayFinding™ experience where doctor-informed, AI-powered experiences connect Members to the right care on their terms.
This seamless connection between human expertise and intelligent technology reduces barriers between identifying a concern and receiving care — a critical step toward prevention, healing, and resilience.
How Employers Can Lead the Way
Employers play a vital role in amplifying access to mental health support; 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition4. This reinforces the growing need for virtual care experiences make easy for people to quickly connect to the care they need.
Globally, mental health is now the top health concern among employees — 81% of workers reported that they will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future4. Offering diverse and equitable resources isn’t just compassionate; it’s strategic. When employees have easy access to affordable health and care, organizations see higher engagement, stronger retention, and a healthier, more resilient workforce.
A Call to Care — For All of Us
This World Mental Health Day is a reminder that moments of crisis often reveal the limitations within our health systems, but they also demonstrate what’s possible when care is timely, empathetic, and accessible.
Our efforts to build a better future in mental health care are well underway. By integrating clinical expertise, technology-enabled navigation, and collaborative behavioral health partnerships, we’re working toward a future where mental health support is accessible, equitable, and embedded in everyday care. Because when we make care easier to reach, we make healing possible for everyone.
Sources:
Transcarent is committed to providing accurate, evidence-based information to help you make informed health decisions.
World Health Organization: WHO. (2025, May 6). Mental health in emergencies. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-in-emergencies
KFF. (2025, August 11). The Twin Problems of Mental Health Care: Access and Affordability | KFF. https://www.kff.org/from-drew-altman/the-twin-problems-of-mental-health-care-access-and-affordability/
Challenges and opportunities for mental health services in rural areas - RHIHub Toolkit. (n.d.). https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/mental-health/1/barriers
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025). Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being. In U.S. Department of Health And Human Services. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/workplace-well-being/index.html
