Blog

/

In the News

/

The State of Mental Healthcare in 2024

The State of Mental Healthcare in 2024

default-author
The Cerebral Team May 1, 2024
reviewer
preview_image
Take the next step to feeling better
Get started

Historically, our society has focused health-related conversations on the physical, treating mental illness as something private, strengthening the stigma that keeps many from seeking help. In reality, 90% of the American public believes we are in a mental health crisis, with 33% of American adults citing that they have felt anxious “often or always” within the last year according to a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and CNN.

In the wake of global, unprecedented challenges, the demand for accessible and effective mental health services has never been more urgent. However, stigma and limited accessibility has created a critical need for a digital revolution and a new era of mental health support that breaks down these barriers.

Barriers to access: why are so few people getting treatment?

Accessibility

Accessibility remains a significant barrier to mental health treatment, particularly for underserved populations. Similarly, mental health challenges, traumas, and triggers can strike at any moment, underscoring the critical need for improved accessibility to care outside the constraints of traditional healthcare models.

Addressing these accessibility barriers requires a multifaceted approach, including expanding offerings, increasing the diversity of providers, implementing culturally competent care practices, and investing in community-based initiatives to reach those most in need.

Effective Care

Even if patients can overcome the issue of accessibility, they will often experience a barrier to effective care. While access is essential, the quality and effectiveness of care is equally crucial. In many cases, individuals may not receive evidence based treatments tailored to their specific needs leading to less than ideal outcomes. Disparities in treatment modalities and lack of treatment measurements can contribute to unoptimized quality of care.

Furthermore, the rampant stigma surrounding mental illness may deter individuals from seeking help altogether, slowing their access to effective interventions and prolonging silent suffering.

Trust in the Healthcare System

Combined, these barriers continue to break down trust in the healthcare space. For underserved communities, a data-driven approach is not only an innovation, but a foundational standard. Building trust and encouraging the public to engage in their mental health care looks like proactive care, meeting people where they are, and providing products and services with long term, meaningful value.

While the mental health space has made transformative strides in the last four years since the COVID-19 pandemic, we must move beyond telehealth 1.0 in order to set up consumers for their utmost success.

Cerebral’s Mission: Creating A New Era of Care 

The reality for many patients is that it has been very hard for them to get help. We believe that improving the quality of care requires addressing both effectiveness of and access to healthcare.

Cerebral is creating a new era of mental health care that goes beyond a static virtual model. By delivering dynamic care that combines a personalized, integrated approach with innovative accessibility, we’re empowering each individual to take control of their health on their terms. And the outcomes are the proof:

As of March 2024, the majority of Cerebral clients with moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression report a significant reduction in GAD-7 and/or PHQ-9 scores.

We understand that outcomes and measurement are sorely lacking in the mental health space, a bar which must be raised. By tracking meaningful and actionable clinical quality indicators, we monitor effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and timeliness of care, adding value beyond the traditional mental health care model.

Finally, the Cerebral Way takes radical transparency seriously. Our clinicians take your goals, needs, and life experiences into account so you get a personalized plan for treatment. This collaborative approach means you will know what to expect along your way to mental wellness. Plus, all Cerebral clinicians are thoroughly vetted, credentialed, and trained to provide the highest level of care, driving home the mission of addressing both effectiveness and trust.

What’s next?

The current standard of effectiveness and access is not enough. At Cerebral, we are committed to facing this challenge head on and we will continue to create affordable, high-quality mental health care for everyone. It’s time to take control of your health on your terms.

Get top insights and news from our experts
Helpful mental heath resources delivered straight to your inbox!
You may also like
Aug 4, 2025
In the News
Therapy
Our Care: The Resilience Methodology
Mental health that builds relief today and resilience tomorrow Quality, consistency, and lifelong skills Choosing a mental health care provider can be one of the most challenging parts of getting started — especially online. It can be difficult to compare important aspects of treatment like quality, experience, access, insurance, and more. Mental health can also be difficult to measure, but knowing your therapist or prescriber has a solid plan for your improvement can help give structure to your time together. That’s why we developed the Resilience Methodology — a comprehensive framework for mental health that makes it easier for you and your clinician to set goals and make meaningful progress together. 5 pillars of the Resilience Methodology Compatibility Working with a clinician who understands you is one of the most important parts of making progress in your mental health. We have a pool of over 600 diverse, trained, and vetted therapists and prescribers to make it easier to find the right fit on the first try. And we make it easy to choose a new clinician anytime throughout your treatment for any reason. Collaboration You’re an active part of your treatment. You and your therapist or prescriber will work together to identify goals that are meaningful to you and the steps you’ll take to work toward them. This process also helps you know what to expect along your journey and take note of the progress you’re making together. Coordination Your clinician will ask questions to help them understand all contributing factors of your mental health and how to address the root causes. We also make it easy to add or switch services so you can access therapy, medication, or both whenever it’s appropriate. Your clinicians can also share notes to understand the full context of your journey and provide you with consistent care. Personalization Each person has their own history and health. Our priority is understanding who you are and creating a custom treatment plan tailored to your needs. We also encourage you to be as open and honest with your clinician about how your treatment is working for you so you can make adjustments together as needed. Measurement Mental health can be difficult to measure. We use standardized mental health assessments like PHQ-9, GAD-7, and WHOQOL to help you set goals with your clinician, understand trends over time, and identify changes when they happen. The results of these assessments don’t define who you are — they give additional insight into how you’re feeling, progress you’ve made, and milestones you’ve achieved. How it works  1. We'll get to know each other Your journey starts with an intake session with your therapist or prescriber. They'll ask you some questions about your experience, why you're seeking support, and any symptoms you may be experiencing. The focus is on understanding you and your experiences, goals, and challenges. If you choose to meet with a prescriber, they may determine a diagnosis and prescribe medication if it's appropriate. 2. You'll get a personalized plan Your clinician will make a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and work with you to set goals. Your treatment plan is a roadmap for your mental health journey, complete with milestones and check-ins with your therapist and/or prescriber. You can always talk to your clinician about how your plan is working and make any necessary adjustments along the way. 3. Keep track of your progress  You'll continue to meet with your therapist and/or prescriber as necessary, and take assessments along the way to help keep track of how you’re doing. You can always talk to your clinician about how your plan is working, and work with them to make any necessary adjustments along the way. You can also message your clinician between sessions if you have questions or need extra support. What sets us apart More than just a patient Our clinicians truly care to know you as a person — not just a patient. We prioritize creating a diverse pool of clinicians to help you find someone who can relate to your experience and make you feel comfortable. We also make it easy to switch therapists or prescribers at any time for any reason — no phone calls or emails necessary. You can see all available options right from your account and book a session with whoever fits your needs and schedule. Coordinated care made easy Sign up once and get access to high quality therapy, medication management, or both. No long wait times, figuring out insurance, or waiting for a referral. And your clinicians can share notes to make sure you’re getting consistent, meaningful care across treatment programs. It’s easy to switch or add services anytime throughout your treatment to help you get support when you need it. More than just relief Our approach isn’t made to just manage your symptoms or feel better in the short term. We built our framework based on real clinical evidence and guidance to help every client develop long-term skills for the future. Our goal is to give you relief now, and tools for life. Ready to get started? Whatever you’re going through, we have clinicians ready to listen and support you. Find a therapist or prescriber here.
Read more
Aug 4, 2025
In the News
Therapy
A New Era of Mental Healthcare: How Cerebral Is Expanding High-Quality, Personalized Care
We’re excited to announce that Cerebral has acquired Resilience Lab, a behavioral health organization known for its outcomes-focused care model and pioneering clinician development platform. This acquisition marks a major milestone in our mission to deliver high-quality, integrated mental healthcare. By joining forces, we’re combining Cerebral’s national reach and operational strength with Resilience Lab’s proven methodology and training infrastructure—ensuring clients receive consistent, personalized care from a deeply supported network of clinicians. Why it’s important to raise the standard of care Access to mental health support has increased in recent years—but access alone isn’t enough. For care to truly make a difference, it has to be consistent, personalized, and rooted in evidence-based practices. That’s why Cerebral is investing in what matters most: clinical quality. By acquiring Resilience Lab, we’re taking a major step toward delivering on our mission to provide exceptional mental healthcare with real, lasting results. What this means for clients Cerebral and Resilience Lab are now one team, working together under the Cerebral brand. What makes this partnership so impactful is that it solves two of the biggest challenges in the industry: Fragmented care Traditionally, clients see separate providers for therapy and psychiatric care, with little coordination between them. That fragmentation can slow progress or lead to gaps in treatment. Cerebral’s integrated model brings therapists and prescribers together on the same care team. Providers collaborate in real time, making shared treatment decisions and adjusting care as needed. Inconsistent outcomes Everyone deserves high-quality care, no matter who they see. Resilience Lab focuses on developing and empowering early-career clinicians and providing them with supervised training rooted in clinical best practices. They recognize that care is rooted in your relationship with your clinician, and establishing that trust is everything. That means more reliable, effective support for clients—and a stronger mental health workforce. What makes the Resilience Methodology different? Resilience Lab’s approach is unique because it prioritizes both clinical excellence and clinician wellbeing. Here’s how it works: Structured development for early-career therapists and prescribers Clinicians are trained in a rigorous, evidence-informed method that prioritizes therapeutic alliance, ongoing feedback, and personalized care. Support to prevent burnout and turnover The clinician experience is central. With better training, support, and supervision, therapists are more equipped to stay engaged and grow in their careers—benefiting both clients and the broader system. Measurement-informed care Clinical decisions are guided by real-time progress tracking, which helps tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs and goals. In short, clients benefit from care that is grounded in data, backed by training, and focused on building lasting resilience, not just symptom relief. Why this matters for the future of mental health Cerebral serves more than 100 million commercial insurance members nationwide. With this acquisition, we’re scaling a clinician-centered, outcomes-driven model that will help transform how mental healthcare is delivered across the country. “Our mission is to set a new standard for the quality of integrated mental health care,” said Brian Reinken, CEO of Cerebral. “We’re combining Cerebral’s operational scale and breadth with Resilience Lab’s clinical rigor to become a true center of excellence.” Seeking out professional support Whether you’re managing anxiety, burnout, or simply navigating life’s challenges, quality care makes all the difference. At Cerebral, our therapists and prescribers work together to support your mental health journey, offering personalized treatment, real-time collaboration, and if needed, medication delivery right to your door. We’re proud to welcome Resilience Lab to our team as we continue our commitment to helping you feel your best, today and in the future. Ready to take the next step? Learn more and get started at www.cerebral.com
Read more
Jan 16, 2025
In the News
Cerebral Partners with San Antonio Spurs
Cerebral is proud to be teaming up with the San Antonio Spurs to make mental health care more accessible and affordable for communities across Texas.  According to KFF, since 2022, 30% of adults in Texas who reported symptoms of anxiety or depression said they needed counseling or therapy but didn't receive it. Cerebral, alongside the Spurs, are on a mission to break down the barriers to care, offering convenient and comprehensive support, covered by insurance, so Texans of all backgrounds have access to professional mental health care when they need it most. “At Cerebral, our mission has always been to break down barriers to mental health care and ensure that every individual has access to the high-quality support they need. Together, with the San Antonio Spurs, we’re not just creating opportunities for communities across Texas - we’re creating a culture where mental health is prioritized, understood, and supported at every level,” said Cerebral President, Brian Reinken. {MiniWidget:Generic} A new era of care Cerebral is creating a new era of mental health care that goes beyond a traditional, static model by addressing both effectiveness and accessibility. Through dynamic care that combines a personalized, coordinated approach with in-network accessibility with partners like BlueCross, Cigna, UnitedHealth, and more, each individual can feel empowered to take control of their health on their terms. And the outcomes are the proof: As of March 2024, at least 72% of Cerebral clients with moderate to severe anxiety and/or depression reported feeling better within 12 weeks. Raising awareness around mental health Cerebral will leverage their partnership with the Spurs to raise awareness about mental health, share resources, and advocate for the importance of mental well-being in both the sports world and everyday life. In addition to signage and media presence at Spurs home games, Cerebral will host a mental health workshop for the Spurs Community Leadership Institute, a program designed to provide curated curriculum, expert panels, and group collaboration for Impact leaders in San Antonio.  “We believe in taking a holistic approach to health, in both mind and body, and want to support our community in accessing affordable and convenient mental healthcare,” said Frank Miceli, Chief Commercial Officer for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “We admire the work Cerebral has done to expand access for all.” About Cerebral Cerebral’s mission is to increase access to high-quality mental health care to all. Unlike traditional mental health care, Cerebral’s telehealth service is accessible, convenient, and affordable. With several monthly subscription plans to choose from, members receive online access to therapists and prescribing providers, all from the comfort of home or anywhere else with an internet connection. Visits are done via video chat, and members can message their care team directly. Members can even receive medications delivered straight to their door (if prescribed). About Spurs Sports & Entertainment Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) is a value-based and community-centric sports and entertainment company that provides premier live and global digital experiences for fans across a portfolio of three teams and several first-class venues in South Texas – all supported by a staff of more than 1,000 full and part-time employees. SS&E owns and operates the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), Austin Spurs (NBA G League), and San Antonio FC (USL), as well as manages the day-to-day operations of the Frost Bank Center, The Rock at La Cantera, Toyota Field and Ricos STAR Soccer Complex. Images by Markus Spiske and on pexels.
Read more
View more posts
Mental health care made for you
Find a therapist or prescriber to get the care you need.
Get started
mental-heath-support

Call 911 if you’re having a
mental health emergency

Text Home to 741-741 if you're in emotional
distress and need immediate support

Call or text 988 Suicide &
Crisis Lifeline. Chat service
is available at 988lifeline.org.