Investing in healthcare and community health

Expanding mental health services

About one in five American adults have mental health issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder; as many as one in six U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 17 has a treatable mental health issue.

Yet only about half the adults and children with mental health issues receive treatment or counseling from a mental health professional. For most, finding appropriate mental health care is a challenge: Too few providers, a fragmented health system and the stigma surrounding mental health issues all create barriers.

Without treatment, mental health disorders can erode physical health, impede success in school, work and life. Mental health disorders too often lead to suicide—the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And yet, most mental health issues can be managed with the appropriate combination of treatment and supports. That's why the Cardinal Health Foundation has invested nearly $2.6 million in suicide prevention and increased access to mental health services.

Addressing social determinants of health

Clinical care that is safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable and people-centered is key to positive health outcomes. But today, healthcare providers and researchers recognize that social factors are even greater predictors of health and well-being than clinical health. In fact, according to research reported in a 2016 issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine, medical care accounts for only 10 to 20 percent of the contributors to health outcomes. The other 80 to 90 percent are social determinants of health, including health-related behaviors, socioeconomic factors and environmental factors.

To begin addressing these issues, the Cardinal Health Foundation is investing nearly $2.5M in grants to impact food insecurity and housing instability – complex social issues that greatly influence population health. By supporting organizations that help to increase access to healthy foods and prevent homelessness, we can improve health outcomes as well as the overall health of the communities in which we work and live.