Tackling the Challenge Head-On
Mental illness affects more than 50 million – or 1 in every 5 – people in the United States. Its impact is real, rapidly growing and unbounded by demographics or geography. Yet, many millions go undiagnosed or untreated, unable to access or afford quality mental health treatment. This national challenge has a devasting impact on individuals and families, as well as a significant cost to the healthcare system and economy. Its reach has only been exacerbated by COVID and social unrest.
Summit partnered with CEO Mike Lester, the LifeStance team and co-investor Silversmith Partners in 2017 with a shared vision to build a national platform of behavioral health providers and address this growing, but often overlooked challenge. The LifeStance model is designed to bring together psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists and licensed therapists to provide comprehensive outpatient mental health treatment services through telehealth and in-person appointments. An experienced healthcare executive, Mike understands the powerful imperatives of lower healthcare costs, improved patient outcomes and empowered clinicians – and he designed LifeStance to serve all three, building a growth platform focused on addressing the challenges inherent in the system and expanding access to care.
Below, Mike shares his perspective on the critical importance of removing barriers to mental health care and the keys to LifeStance’s rapid growth.