Atlas Research has received a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the identification and promotion of best practices in sharing personal treatment stories through digital media platforms.
There is a significant disparity between the number of U.S. citizens experiencing mental illness or substance use disorders and the number of individuals who seek treatment. SAMHSA’s 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that half of all Americans will experience symptoms of a behavioral health condition during their lives. It also found that approximately 11.8 million U.S. adults, or about five percent of the adult population, perceived an unmet need for mental health care in the past year.
This project reflects an understanding that negative attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination pose significant barrier to treatment, and that personal recovery stories can play an important role in ending social exclusion and improving awareness of evidence-based mental health treatments and programs. After conducting an analysis of best practices in identifying and sharing treatment success stories through digital platforms, Atlas will design and develop a best practices manual for SAMHSA stakeholders. The team will then provide support and technical assistance to stakeholders in leveraging the latest best practices in narrative medicine, video production, and digital outreach to share treatment success stories in a way that empowers those who share their own stories as well as those who might be inspired by those stories to seek mental health treatment.