In Central Massachusetts, the UMass Memorial Health System is pioneering a comprehensive approach to community-based behavioral health care that puts community at the center of healing and recovery. The health system integrates physical health services with a wide spectrum of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, supplemented by numerous community-based programs designed to meet individuals where they are — both geographically and in their journey to wellness.
A Holistic and Coordinated Approach to Behavioral Health
UMass Memorial recognizes that effective community-based behavioral health care must extend beyond isolated treatment episodes and hospital walls. Coordinating care across different levels — from acute inpatient services to outpatient care and community support — is essential. This step-down care model ensures patients don’t just receive treatment but also ongoing support as they transition back into their daily lives.
At the heart of this effort is Community Healthlink, a behavioral health organization within UMass Memorial dedicated to providing personalized, community-based behavioral health care. The focus is on meeting people in the environments where they live, work, learn, and grow.
Tamara Lundi, president and CEO of Community Healthlink, explained the philosophy: “We found that people respond very well to the notion of being able to connect with someone. It could be in their home and their schools, wherever they might be residing. And that is a way in which we can make those connections long-lasting, as opposed to just episodic.”
With over 22,000 clients served annually, Community Healthlink is the largest provider of community-based behavioral health care in Central Massachusetts. The organization operates within a network of partnerships that include private insurers, Medicaid, and Medicare, enabling access to a wide array of services that cover the entire lifespan — from early childhood interventions through geriatric behavioral health care. It also offers specialized substance use treatment and robust collaboration with schools.
Recognizing the Impact of Social Determinants on Health
UMass Memorial’s strategy is grounded in the understanding that health is influenced heavily by social factors. “We also know that 90% of what impacts our overall health is outside of the brick and mortar,” Lundi noted, highlighting the importance of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) — factors such as housing stability, access to nutritious food, educational opportunities, and community safety.
Community Healthlink actively collaborates with hospitals and other community stakeholders to provide a seamless continuum of community-based behavioral health care. The 2021 integration of the Harrington HealthCare System into the UMass Memorial network, now known as UMass Memorial Harrington, expanded the system’s behavioral health capacity, especially in inpatient and outpatient services.
Greg Mirhej, vice president of behavioral health at UMass Memorial Harrington, emphasized the system-wide opportunities this creates: “It’s a great opportunity to see if we can, as a system, really develop coordinated services and integrate those services so that any patient in Central Mass can come in and have access to any of those services.”
Mirhej serves alongside Lundi and clinicians from UMass Memorial’s flagship hospital, UMass Medical, on a committee focused on reviewing and improving service delivery. They are conducting a thorough inventory of existing services to identify areas for better integration, reduction of unnecessary duplication, and addressing gaps in care.
“We’re looking at where resources could be better utilized, where there’s duplication we don’t need, and where access needs to improve. And then we ask, what are the service gaps, and how do we come together to fill those?” Mirhej explained.
The Urgent Need to Address Pediatric Mental Health
One of the most pressing challenges facing UMass Memorial—and the behavioral health field nationwide—is pediatric mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about 20% of children with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders receive care from a specialized provider.
Mirhej described the severity of the issue: “If you look at the numbers of kids showing up in the emergency room, kids reporting depression and anxiety, kids with suicidal ideation, even completed suicides among latency-age kids, it’s been exponential.” At his facility alone, over 300 children are currently on waiting lists for outpatient community-based behavioral health care services.
The surge in pediatric mental health needs has overwhelmed local school systems. “School systems are overwhelmed with the number of kids presenting with mental health and substance use concerns, especially after the pandemic,” Lundi said. “What we see now is a result of eyes not being on the chips for so long, and the impact COVID has had on the ability for kids to get any services and stay connected to those networks that really support them before.”
Community Healthlink has responded by deepening its partnerships with schools. It collaborates with more than 30 schools to provide clinical care, case management, and support services that help students navigate behavioral health challenges while remaining connected to their educational environments.
The organization also operates a youth mobile crisis intervention program, which sends behavioral health professionals to schools, homes, or community sites to provide immediate crisis support. This model reduces emergency room visits and connects youth with appropriate services quickly.
Innovations in Autism and Acute Pediatric Care
Addressing the unique needs of children on the autism spectrum is another focus area for Community Healthlink. The organization is working to establish a community-based acute treatment facility specifically designed for children with autism. This specialized center aims to provide acute behavioral health care outside of traditional hospital settings, reducing stress for families and improving access to care.
“There’s an opportunity there to help address those issues in the school system during a time where we really see the need,” Lundi said, underscoring the importance of tailored resources for children with developmental and behavioral complexities.
Building a Connected Behavioral Health Ecosystem
UMass Memorial’s behavioral health efforts illustrate a broader trend in healthcare — moving away from fragmented, episodic treatment toward integrated, continuous care anchored in community and collaboration. The system’s commitment to addressing social determinants of health, expanding access to pediatric services, and coordinating resources across multiple care sites reflects an understanding that community-based behavioral health care must be woven into the fabric of everyday life to be effective.
As Mirhej put it, “How do we come together to make sure any patient in Central Massachusetts has access to the right services at the right time? That’s the challenge and the opportunity.”
Through its extensive network, innovative programs, and community-first mindset, UMass Memorial is setting a standard for comprehensive community-based behavioral health care — one that supports patients and families holistically and sustainably over time.
