As the United States continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union address to shine a spotlight on a growing national emergency: the mental health crisis. In an impassioned speech, Biden laid out a sweeping strategy for mental health care reform, calling on Congress to invest in new solutions while expanding and strengthening existing resources.
According to recent reports, four in ten Americans are now experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression—a figure that has quadrupled since before the pandemic began. The crisis has revealed deep cracks in the nation’s behavioral health infrastructure, from workforce shortages and insurance disparities to insufficient access in rural and underserved communities. President Biden’s address acknowledged these issues head-on, marking the most comprehensive White House initiative in recent memory to fix the nation’s broken behavioral health system.
Rebuilding the Behavioral Health Workforce
At the heart of Biden’s mental health care reform is an ambitious plan to recruit and retain more behavioral health professionals. The administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget proposes a $700 million investment into workforce development, specifically targeting rural and underserved regions where provider shortages are most acute. More than a third of Americans live in areas that are considered mental health professional shortage zones.
This funding would support recruitment pipelines through universities, training programs, scholarships, and loan repayment initiatives. In addition, the plan emphasizes the development of paraprofessionals—support staff trained to deliver basic behavioral health services under supervision. These professionals could ease the burden on clinicians while expanding the availability of care at scale.
By dramatically increasing the number of available providers, the White House hopes to close access gaps and reduce long wait times, which have become a major barrier to care for millions of Americans.
Expanding Access Through Innovation and Technology
In another major component of the reform plan, Biden proposed expanding telehealth services to ensure continuity of care beyond the pandemic. During the height of COVID-19, telebehavioral health use among Medicare enrollees skyrocketed 32-fold. This surge mirrored trends across all sectors of health care, with virtual visits becoming a lifeline for many.
Recognizing the enduring value of remote care, Biden committed to working with Congress to ensure permanent telehealth coverage across all health plans. His administration also encouraged insurance carriers in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to reduce or eliminate copays for virtual mental health visits.
Further, the plan promotes cross-state licensure to enable providers to treat patients regardless of geographic boundaries—an essential step in modernizing mental health access. This effort supports Biden’s broader vision for a digitally connected, accessible, and flexible behavioral health ecosystem.
Strengthening Mental Health Parity
Few topics generate as much debate in the behavioral health space as mental health parity—the principle that mental health care should be covered at the same level as physical health care. Despite laws requiring parity, enforcement has been uneven, and patients still frequently face higher costs, limited networks, and more restrictions for mental health services.
President Biden’s mental health care reform plan demands accountability. His FY 2023 budget calls for all health insurance plans to provide adequate coverage for behavioral health services, including at least three visits annually without any cost-sharing. This move is intended to standardize access, reduce financial strain, and ensure that mental health care is treated with the same urgency and respect as other medical needs.
Increased parity enforcement is especially critical as more Americans seek care for depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use disorders. By holding insurers to a higher standard, the administration aims to eliminate longstanding inequities in behavioral health reimbursement and accessibility.
Integrating Care for Better Outcomes
Another major pillar of Biden’s proposal is the integration of behavioral health services into primary care settings. Research shows that integrating mental health into routine medical care improves outcomes and reduces overall health costs—by up to $178 million per year, according to federal estimates.
To accelerate this shift, the FY 2023 budget will double funding for primary and behavioral health integration programs. Simultaneously, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will pilot new payment models designed to support whole-person care. These models align financial incentives to encourage providers to address mental health as part of overall well-being rather than as a separate, isolated issue.
This integrated approach not only benefits patients through early detection and intervention but also helps destigmatize mental health by embedding it into everyday medical settings.
Serving Specific Populations: Veterans, Students, and Families
The administration’s mental health care reform efforts also recognize the unique needs of veterans, students, and families. Biden announced that the Department of Education will continue to allocate relief funds toward hiring and training mental health professionals in colleges and universities—places where demand for counseling services has soared in recent years.
For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will fully implement its Primary Care Mental Health Integration and Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program. This initiative ensures that veterans have same-day access to mental health services within VA primary care clinics—an approach that facilitates faster treatment and supports long-term recovery.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense is developing a digital one-stop shop to help service members and their families locate mental health services and providers. This online hub will streamline the process of finding care and reduce administrative burdens that often delay treatment.
These targeted efforts are part of a broader mission to ensure that all Americans—regardless of age, occupation, or background—can access quality mental health support when they need it most.
Embedding Mental Health Support Into Communities
Beyond clinics and hospitals, the Biden administration is looking to expand mental health access in the places people frequent every day. The FY 2023 budget allocates $50 million to pilot programs that embed mental health services in non-traditional community settings such as schools, libraries, homeless shelters, and community centers.
This community-based model reflects a significant cultural shift in how mental health care is delivered. Rather than requiring individuals to navigate complex health systems, care would come to them—meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally. These pilot programs are expected to improve access, reduce stigma, and foster trust between providers and the communities they serve.
Embedding behavioral health support into local institutions is another example of the administration’s commitment to accessible, person-centered mental health care reform.
A More User-Friendly Federal Platform
As part of the effort to modernize infrastructure, President Biden promised an overhaul of the federal government’s mentalhealth.gov website, which has remained largely unchanged since 2017. A redesigned and more interactive platform would make it easier for people to find resources, contact support, and learn about available services.
This digital transformation aligns with the administration’s larger health equity goals—ensuring that every American, regardless of tech-savviness or income, has a clear and user-friendly pathway to care.
A Turning Point for Mental Health in America
President Biden’s address marked a rare and powerful moment in which mental health took center stage on a national platform. His mental health care reform blueprint reflects a holistic approach—one that blends workforce development, technological innovation, insurance reform, and community integration.
If enacted, the administration’s FY 2023 proposals could dramatically reshape how Americans access and experience behavioral health care. From breaking down barriers in underserved areas to promoting parity, integration, and innovation, the plan signals a renewed national commitment to mental wellness.
For individuals, families, and communities affected by mental illness and substance use disorders, Biden’s message is clear: help is on the way, and change is coming.
