Preventative mental health education is essential for student success, and integrating quick, practical tools into daily routines can foster emotional resilience and prevent crises.

In this episode, Tessa Zimmerman, founder of Upstream Education, discusses her mission to revolutionize mental health education for students. She talks about her struggles with severe panic attacks as a child and how it impulsed the development of a program that equips educators with tier-one social-emotional learning tools. Tessa mentions how, with the help of a student task force and mental health experts, Upstream Education ensures its programs remain relevant and impactful. She also explains the three pillars to aim to prevent mental health crises: stress management, self-regulation, and attachment.

Tune in to learn how small changes and bite-sized tools in education can make a big difference in mental health and foster emotional well-being for students and staff!

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

To expand mental healthcare access and balance operational growth with quality care for diverse populations, including underserved communities and teens.

In this episode, Julia Bernstein, Chief Operations Officer at Brightside Health, explores the challenges and innovations in scaling quality mental health care to underserved populations. She talks about leveraging evidence-based practices to ensure quality care delivery. Julia discusses utilizing digital tools to address barriers to accessing care for teens. She also shares some insights on navigating regulatory frameworks to expand equitable mental health services.

Tune in to discover how digital health innovation transforms access to quality mental health care for underserved communities!



Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Integrating behavioral health into OB practices and utilizing telehealth is critical to addressing the maternal mental health crisis and improving outcomes for families.

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Gaulton, CEO of Family Well, discusses the intersection of perinatal mental health and technology, focusing on collaborative care. She discusses how innovative care models are addressing critical gaps in maternal mental health services. Dr. Gaulton talks about embedding behavioral health support into OB practices. She also mentions how leveraging telehealth helps scale access to specialized care for new mothers and families.

Tune in to learn how innovative care models and tech-driven solutions are reshaping the future of maternal mental health!

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Asynchronous therapy and telehealth expand access to mental healthcare, especially for underserved populations, through scalable, technology-driven approaches.

In this episode, Erin Boyd, Chief Growth Officer at Talkspace, discusses the evolving landscape of digital behavioral health. She emphasizes how innovative approaches like asynchronous therapy and telehealth are breaking barriers in mental healthcare. Erin also discusses strategies to combat stigma and expand access to underserved populations such as teens and seniors. She also explores the integration of AI to improve therapeutic outcomes.

Tune in to discover how digital health is reshaping the way we approach mental healthcare!



Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Maternal mental health care is undergoing a transformation through cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions.

In this episode, Malekeh Amini, CEO and founder of Trayt Health, shares how her personal experiences with maternal mental health have driven her passion for improving care and prevention through Trayt’s platform. This platform enhances providers' access via integrated care models and emphasizes the importance of universal screening beginning before pregnancy, as maternal mental health affects entire families and future generations. She highlights the urgent need to treat maternal mental health as a critical issue, advocating for public-private partnerships to foster solutions. Malekeh also underscores the significance of educating mothers and families about accessible care and highlights the crucial role of leaders and funders in supporting universal screening initiatives.

Tune in to discover the strides being made in maternal mental health and the innovative technologies shaping the future of healthcare.

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Handwritten letters foster human connection, bridging cultural and systemic gaps in mental health care and empowering individuals, even in underserved communities, to feel heard and supported.

In this episode, Diana Chao, founder of Letters to Strangers, discusses how her personal struggles with mental health led her to create a global youth mental health NGO that spans 72 countries. She also discusses the power of letter writing to foster empathy and connection and the limitations of Western-centric mental health frameworks in a globalized world.

Tune in to hear how the universal power of human connection is breaking barriers in mental health care!

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

AI-driven healthcare solutions can revolutionize behavioral health by optimizing schedules, improving patient matching, and enhancing operational efficiency.

In this episode, Plamen Petrov, CEO of Healee, shares how AI-driven solutions are addressing critical challenges in healthcare scheduling. He also discusses the importance of provider-patient matching and operational optimization through technology. Plamen discusses the importance of identifying gaps in provider schedules and leveraging data-driven strategies to enhance care delivery and accessibility.

Tune in to uncover how cutting-edge technology is breaking barriers in behavioral healthcare!

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Psychedelics are transforming mental health care accessibility and treatment.

In this episode, Dr. Dana Lerman shares her journey from being an infectious disease consultant to founding Skylight Psychedelics after facing personal mental health struggles during the COVID pandemic. She discusses her transformative experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including an ayahuasca retreat, and how these therapies catalyzed profound personal changes and a career shift. Dr. Lerman highlights the critical role of psychedelics in enhancing mental health care accessibility, illustrated by her work with insurance companies to provide ketamine-assisted therapy benefits. She emphasizes the potential of psychedelics, like ketamine, in treating conditions such as suicidality, advocating for the de-stigmatization and respectful use of these medicines.

Tune in to learn how innovative approaches in psychedelic therapy are reshaping the landscape of mental health care!

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Innovative psychiatric care models are reshaping how we address behavioral health crises.

In this episode, Colin LeClair, CEO of Connections, discusses Connections' freestanding emergency psychiatric units that provide alternatives to traditional hospital settings, aiming to rapidly stabilize patients in crisis and reduce the burden on hospitals. Colin addresses significant barriers to behavioral health parity, particularly health plan engagement, and advocates for a shift towards value-based care models. He highlights potential cost savings from reducing inpatient admissions, which can be reinvested into preventive care. Emphasizing the importance of specialty providers forming consortiums to effectively engage payers, Colin calls for collaborative efforts within the industry to promote systemic change.

Tune in to learn how behavioral health parity and innovative care models are transforming the landscape of psychiatric care!



Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

FDA-cleared digital mental health treatments are transforming behavioral healthcare by improving access, affordability, and clinical rigor.

In this episode, Dr. Jenna Carl, Chief Medical Officer at Big Health, discusses the transformative potential of FDA-cleared digital mental health treatments. She explains how these evidence-based, automated programs address critical challenges like accessibility and cost in behavioral healthcare. Throughout this conversation, Dr. Carl highlights the recent CMS approval of new reimbursement codes for FDA-regulated digital mental health treatments, which has enabled greater adoption and availability of innovative solutions for conditions like insomnia and anxiety. She also explains the distinctions between these treatments and standard wellness apps, underlining their clinical rigor and cost-effectiveness.

Tune in to learn how FDA-cleared digital mental health treatments are revolutionizing behavioral healthcare!

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.

Save $100 on your registration here by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”