Advancing Behavioral Health Through Data and Collaboration

Behavioral health disorders affect nearly 1.1 million Wisconsinites and contribute to more than $9 billion in annual costs. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize the meaningful progress our members are making to improve behavioral health care and depression screening across Wisconsin.

Together, members achieved the highest depression screening rate in WCHQ history—87.15%—an increase of 2.23 percentage points since the end of 2023. This improvement resulted in more than 24,000 additional patients screened and an estimated $59 million in cost avoidance.  

Neil Mitchell, MS, LPC, at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, reminds us:  

Behavioral Health screening is the essential first step in capturing conditions that may otherwise be missed. The screenings serve as a gauge for behavioral health concerns that can guide clinicians in providing the most effective care and/or referral to best serve their populations.

While screening is a critical first step, improving access to care is equally important to achieving better outcomes. More than 1.5 million Wisconsinites live in communities experiencing shortages of mental health professionals. Expanding access to behavioral health care can reduce costs, lower the risk of comorbid conditions, and improve quality of life for patients and families.

Across the state, members are strengthening key processes, including depression and anxiety screening, follow-up and referral workflows, and measurement of treatment response and remission. Health systems are also continuing to expand Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) models within primary care settings, supporting coordinated care, warm handoffs between providers, and improved access to behavioral health services where patients already receive care. Learn more about IBH here:  White Paper: Opportunities to Increase Access to Behavioral Health Care in Wisconsin highlights.

A recent WCHQ Health Insights highlights our work in Behavioral Health. We encourage members to share these resources within your networks to help spread awareness and accelerate improvements.  

Together, we remain committed to turning data into action and advancing patient-centered behavioral health care that improves outcomes for individuals, families, and communities across Wisconsin.

Limited seating – sign up today!

Healthcare professionals, leaders, and innovators are invited to join us on August 14 for the WCHQ Cardiometabolic Assembly. This program will advance prevention of cardiometabolic disease by equipping participants with data-driven, actionable strategies for early identification and targeted intervention to improve outcomes and reduce costs across clinical and community settings.

Attendees will be able to:

• Apply quality data and improvement strategies to actively prevent the progression of cardiometabolic conditions in your daily practice.
• Implement targeted interventions for obesity, CKD, diabetes, and MASH to enhance patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
• Select and initiate evidence-based interventions in clinical, payer, or community environments to address cardiometabolic disease today.

View the agenda and register today. Join us to learn, collaborate, and drive meaningful improvement across Wisconsin.

WCHQ is committed to turning ideas into action, and we invite you to be part of the conversation at our upcoming events:

Upcoming In-Person Events

• July 13, 2026 – Bridging Primary Care and Neurology in Multiple Sclerosis Care - Webinar‍
• August 14, 2026 – WCHQ Cardiometabolic Assembly‍
• November 13, 2026 - WCHQ Quality Impact Assembly

Learn More