Great Lakes Wire

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released new data indicating that 29.9% of adults in Michigan experience symptoms of mental health disorders. Concurrently, Bridge Michigan reports that staffing shortages have resulted in the closure of 77 inpatient psychiatric beds, exacerbating access to care issues.

According to the report, substance use and mental health concerns have escalated during the pandemic. The United States recorded a historic 106,600 drug overdose deaths in 2021, marking a 51% increase since 2019. This surge is largely attributed to opioids, which accounted for 75% of these fatalities. Suicide continues to be a significant public health challenge, especially among youth and communities of color, with firearm-related suicides constituting over half of all such deaths nationwide. Despite the rising demand for mental health services, access remains constrained due to workforce shortages and insurance barriers. However, Michigan has addressed a higher percentage of its mental health provider needs (33.1%) compared to the national average (27.7%), with Medicaid playing a crucial role in providing coverage for low-income adults with mental illness.

As per Great Lakes Wire, Michigan ranked 46th nationally for psychiatric bed availability in 2023, offering only five beds per 100,000 people—far below the Treatment Advocacy Center’s recommended range of 40 to 60 beds. This shortfall mirrors a national decline from 340 beds per 100,000 in 1955 and contributes to emergency room overcrowding and strain on public services. Even when considering both public and private facilities, Michigan's bed-to-population ratio averaged just 33 per 100,000 between 2018 and 2020, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Citizens Research Council reports that the state has a total of 3,195 inpatient psychiatric beds but still falls short of meeting demand.

Michigan’s shortage of psychiatric beds is not merely numerical; it affects access across emergency departments, law enforcement agencies, and families statewide. Robert Sheehan, executive director of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan, described the situation as "deep and prolonged." Sheehan said: "There really is a lack of psychiatric beds not only in Lansing but across the state." He further noted that "kids, young adults and adults have been waiting in emergency rooms, police stations and communal health centers for hours or days for an inpatient bed to open up." Consequently, some individuals are transported hundreds of miles or even out-of-state for care—separating them from family and delaying critical stabilization.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is recognized as a national nonprofit and nonpartisan public charity conducting comprehensive health policy research aimed at informing both the public and policymakers. Headquartered in San Francisco with an office in Washington D.C., KFF operates independently as a trusted source for insights into health policy.