By Carmen Perez, MSW, LSW
CHAMP Program Manager

There is extensive literature surrounding the national crisis of untreated mental health and substance use disorders (SUD) in the lives of Americans. We have all experienced the impact of mental health and SUD issues, whether through a family member, friend, colleague, or our own personal struggles. These issues are pervasive and exist in our daily lives. 

In Indiana, the intertwined complexity of co-occurring conditions affects millions of Hoosiers, primarily due to a shortage of specialists and accessibility. Alarmingly, Indiana ranks 42nd out of all 50 states in access to mental health care, based on access to insurance, access to treatment, quality and cost of insurance, and workforce availability. 

Statistics illustrate the state’s current crisis: 1 in 12 Hoosiers meets the criteria for SUD. Between 2012 and 2016, Indiana’s death rates related to synthetic opioids increased by over 600%. There is no denying the grim reality that individuals are losing their lives to overdoses, suicide, and unresolved symptoms of mental health and SUD.

Vincent True is a client engagement specialist and outreach coordinator for Avenues Recovery in Fort Wayne. 

“The biggest need is more mental health providers,” True said. “There is so much funding for SUD, but we are overlooking the bigger part: mental health. We need more resources, so people can get access to care.” 

As True emphasizes, individuals often cannot access or afford the treatment they need due to socioeconomic factors and geographic restraints in rural counties. True continues to do essential work in his community to reach individuals whose basic needs are not being met by addressing their mental health and SUD, reporting that "it is imperative to bring awareness on how bad it really is out here."  

Mental health and SUD treatment are further complicated as all but two of Indiana’s 92 counties are considered mental health shortage areas. The Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine is addressing these shortages by providing a complimentary psychiatry access program.

In 2023, the department launched Indiana Consultations for Healthcare Providers in Addiction, Mental Health, and Perinatal Psychiatry Program (CHAMP) — the first and only adult and perinatal psychiatry access program in the state. The program, funded through the Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction, aims to expand the state's effective mental health workforce through a network of psychiatric specialists who can give immediate guidance to physicians supporting active health care providers who are often asked to assess and treat mental health needs with immediate guidance from psychiatric specialists.

Consider a hypothetical physician from a rural Indiana family practice who is the only prescriber in his county. The closest specialty offices are 60 miles away, and individuals in the community may wait for months to schedule a psychiatry appointment. The physician has a complex case of a 28-year-old woman whom he has been treating since she was a teenager, and she describes her symptoms of depression, anxiety, and daily use of alcohol.  The physician feels stuck; he has trialed several medications, and the patient is not responding to them.

The physician calls the CHAMP line and immediately is connected to a navigator who asks a few questions about the case. Within 15 minutes of initiating the consultation, the physician receives a call from an adult psychiatrist who provides medical advice regarding treatment for the patient. The physician can now implement the psychiatrist’s treatment recommendations in real time.

Simultaneously, the physician obtains mental health and SUD resources for the patient. The patient is on a six-month wait to see a psychiatrist; however, in the meantime, the physician can assist with the patient’s symptoms of MDD, GAD, and alcohol abuse by consulting with a CHAMP psychiatrist. 

CHAMP has reached providers statewide, including Delaware County nurse practitioner Rebekah Ferrell, who oversees four Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana facilities. When Ferrell's supervisor passed out the CHAMP flyers to her team, Ferrell said her first thought was, “This is gold; this is going to be amazing. The mental health aspect is the hardest thing to wrap my mind around.” 

Ferrell began using the CHAMP line in May 2023 and has enthusiastically spread the word to others about the service's effectiveness.

“It has made me more confident with my treatment plans,” Ferrell said. “I can review plans with a practicing psychiatrist. The psychiatrists have been so wonderful to answer any questions.”

CHAMP and Indiana University School of Medicine are working on improving health outcomes for adults with mental health and SUD concerns. IU staff oversee CHAMP, but any physician or qualified health care provider can participate. There are currently 13 consulting psychiatrists with CHAMP, including ISMA President David R. Diaz, MD. 

The CHAMP line can be accessed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at champ@iu.edu or 317-274-2400 for a free consultation. Learn more about CHAMP here.

This article was written by CHAMP Program Manager Carmen Perez and edited by ISMA staff.