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Saving your own life or the life of a loved one may only be a phone call away at 9-8-8.

If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, call 9-8-8.

This Suicide Prevention Month, we can all help raise awareness about not only what factors may contribute to suicide, but also the help that is available to those thinking about suicide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.5 million people in the United States attempted suicide, and 49,000 died by suicide in 2024.

While there are a multitude of factors that can lead to death by suicide, men account for 80% of all suicides, despite accounting for 50% of the population. Adults 85 and older had the highest suicide rates in 2024, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among those ages 10 to 34.

The Florida Department of Health notes key individual risk factors, such as: history of depression and/or other mental illnesses, hopelessness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, and more. Additionally, there are relationship risk factors, such as domestic violence, and community risk factors, such as barriers to health care.

Help is available. Florida has a robust behavioral health care system, and Florida’s seven Behavioral Health Managing Entities serve as the safety net for this system – ensuring access to behavioral health services for the uninsured and underinsured.

Behavioral Health Managing Entities oversee a network of providers that serve Florida’s broader population with services such as Crisis Stabilization Units, Mobile Response teams for individuals in crisis, and prevention and awareness campaigns.

One example of a crucial behavioral health service provided by the safety net system is the hospital bridge program. In 2022, there were 7,477 hospitalizations for non-fatal self-inflicted injuries in Florida. Hospital bridge programs coordinate services after an individual is stabilized in the emergency department, so they can continue to receive the treatment they need to lead a healthier life.

Connecting individuals experiencing a mental health crisis with immediate behavioral health services saves lives. Saving your own life or the life of a loved one may only be a phone call away at 9-8-8.

Natalie K. Kelly is CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities.

New measure by the Dartment of Children and Families has reduced involuntary behavioral health admissions by 80%.

New measures by the Florida Association of Managing Entities to divert patients who have been recommended for detention under Florida’s Baker Act, a mental health designation, from being involuntarily confined have saved the state millions in costs.

The Florida Department of Children and Families found that there was about $12.2 million annually that has been saved since so-called Mobile Response Teams (MRTs) have intervened before or as law enforcement is confronted with someone undergoing a mental health crisis. Often, law enforcement responding to those incidents will detain a person under the Baker Act and will refer them involuntarily to psychiatric hospitalization.

The Florida Association of Managing Entites officials say the MRTs have diverted 80% of those individuals from going through that forced hospitalization. MRTs are meant to intervene in crises, alleviate trauma, and de-escalate incidents. Those responses from MRTs, which are on call 24 hours a day, instead of law enforcement interventions, have saved Floridians millions in fiscal year 2023-24.

MRTs contract with Florida Behavioral Health Managing Entities in seven areas of the state to work with local providers.

“This model is about meeting people where they are — literally and figuratively,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities, in a news release. “When a person is in crisis, a mobile team trained in behavioral health can de-escalate the situation, connect them to the right resources, and avoid the trauma and high costs of Baker Act admissions. Ultimately, the behavioral health services these individuals receive help them get back on their feet and contributing to Florida’s economy.”

In fiscal year 2022-2023, there were 173,721 involuntary behavioral health examinations in Florida. DCF officials say the fact that the figure was driven down 80% by MRTs improved outcomes for individuals and families and provided relief for state-run mental health and emergency facilities.

DCF officials also concluded MRTs reduce trauma, improve outcomes, enhance coordination, support first responders and prevent unnecessary involuntary admissions.

Stakeholder groups embrace reforms in HB 7021.

Two stakeholder groups are united in approval over legislation passed the Session that changes Florida’s approach to mental health.

Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly says her group, which focuses on behavioral health, is applauding “the Legislature for passing legislation that modernizes the decades-old Baker and Marchman acts.”

“The bill, if approved by the Governor, will streamline the Baker Act and Marchman Act processes, remove barriers to services, and ensure those who are discharged have the access to care they need. Additionally, the bill places Florida’s Managing Entities on the Interagency Collaboration Board,” Kelly notes.

Meanwhile, the Florida Behavioral Health Association is likewise thrilled.

“Under the incredible leadership of Representative Patt Maney, who has spearheaded this initiative for over four years, in partnership with Representative Traci Koster and Senator Erin Grall, families across Florida will benefit from HB 7021,” said FBHA President and CEO Melanie Brown-Woofter.

“The bill will enhance access to mental health and substance use disorder crisis services in Florida’s communities and will provide flexibility for courts to better meet individuals’ needs, ultimately protecting individuals and families. This is a huge win for Florida’s community behavioral health providers, and we are grateful to Representative Patt Maney for being the champion for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.”

Brown-Woofter continued, “On behalf of the nearly 70 community mental health and substance use disorder providers and over half a million Floridians FBHA represents, we thank them for championing HB 7021, which invests $50 million towards improving and expanding services offered through the Baker and Marchman Acts.”

Indeed, the bill, which includes a $50 million appropriation to the Department of Children and Families and which was approved unanimously in the House and Senate, seems to offer a series of much needed reforms.

Baker Act changes include streamlining the process for obtaining involuntary services, and giving police officers more latitude on involuntary exams for those who need them.

Marchman Act changes include a new “consolidated involuntary treatment process,” banning courts from putting developmentally disabled people into state facilities involuntarily, allowing witnesses to appear remotely given good cause and consent from all parties, and allowing people to be admitted without a transfer evaluation.

Audit confirms Florida’s behavioral health system works, efficiently serving vulnerable communities statewide

Florida’s behavioral health safety net system, overseen by seven regional Managing Entities, ensures that uninsured and underinsured Floridians can access essential behavioral health services regardless of their ability to pay. More than $1 billion goes into this robust system of care, which meets individuals’ acute and long-term behavioral health needs in both crisis and non-crisis settings and supports housing, transportation, and employment.

A recent statutorily required audit of the Managing Entities and the safety net system of care found no significant instances of Fraud, Waste or Abuse, proving the accountability, transparency and strength of this system.

House Bill 633, passed during the last Legislative Session, requires an independent audit of the Managing Entities. Last week, the Department of Children and Families presented it at a Committee meeting to share the audit results.

Bill Hardin, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Substance Abuse & Mental Health, remarked that the audit identified commendable practices and identified enhancements within the system.

During his presentation, Mr. Hardin emphasized that Managing Entities statewide operate at an administrative rate of less than 3% of the total allocations in appropriations and grants totaling $1.2 billion.

He then noted that commendable practices included responsiveness, which is due entirely to the Managing Entities’ past and ongoing transparency and efficiency. This responsiveness facilitated the efficient execution of the audit.

The auditors also noted highly engaged leadership teams among the Managing Entities and overwhelming support from behavioral health providers in the Managing Entity Services network, as indicated by anonymous surveys.

While there were no significant findings of waste, fraud and abuse, areas for improvement within certain processes were identified. Each Managing Entity has independent findings, enabling them to continue enhancing the behavioral health safety net system.

House Bill 633 also called for the streamlined collection and reporting of essential data that shows significant outcomes, services and the return on investment in the state’s behavioral health safety net system. Managing Entities have developed a dashboard to comply with this requirement, and it is now on the Department of Children and Families website.

While Florida’s Managing Entities operate with extreme efficiency at a statewide 3% administrative rate, additional administrative resources will enable them to invest in the recommended enhancements.

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Natalie Kelly is CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities.