Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a community-based, low-intensity mental health intervention that can be delivered by trained non-clinical workers for adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health distress and practical problems of daily living. PM+ fills a gap in the behavioral health services system by providing early intervention and potential prevention of more acute behavioral health service needs. By helping to build the capacity of the workforce, PM+ holds promise for improving access to community-based mental health supports. Earlier this year, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (Foundation) launched its Advancing Community-Driven Mental Health (ACDMH) grant program which leverages the evidence-based PM+ intervention to enhance access to mental health supports among five community-based organizations in Massachusetts.
To help broaden the understanding of community-based mental health supports the Foundation hosted a webinar on Tuesday, November 7th from 1-2:30 PM on the topic of PM+. The webinar focused on how this evidence-based intervention – which was originally developed by the World Health Organization to address mental health treatment gaps in low- and middle-income countries – is now being implemented in the United States. The webinar provided an overview of the key components of PM+ and describe lessons learned based on the experience with implementing the intervention in the United States. It featured several guest speakers, including the leaders from three U.S. sites that have recently implemented PM+, and included a brief overview of the Foundation’s ACDMH initiative.
Featured Speakers:
- Adam Brown, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology (Clinical) and Vice Provost for Research, The New School
- Piper Derenoncourt, LICSW, Assistant Director, Mental Health Equity Programs, The Family Van
- Jerome Galea, PhD, MSW, LCSW, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of South Florida
- Giuseppe Raviola, MD, MPH, Director, Mental Health, Partners In Health
- Rainelle Walker-White, Associate Director, Health Equity Programs, The Family Van
