The three-headed hydra of Apathy, Envy and Fear runs a well-endowed foundation.

The Three-Headed Hydra Foundation might award you $1,000,000.00!

Challenge: Solving the Mental Health Care Problem

Imagine, in the near future, the Three-Headed Hydra Foundation is offering $1,000,000.00 for solving a serious problem that has baffled leaders forever. Now imagine you can come up with the solution.

THE CHALLENGE AWAITS

The situation: A county of 40,000 people, including a city of 10,000, have high rates of adverse childhood experiences, abuse, neglect, trauma, substance misuse and interpersonal violence. Surveys of parents reveal that 38% reported needing behavioral health care. 46% of those reporting needing the service reported difficulty accessing behavioral health care services.

The reasons include:

• Wait list is too long: 52%
• Costs too much: 44%
• I can’t find a quality provider: 41%
• It’s too far to travel: 33%
• I feel bad and/or worried about going: 28%
• No insurance coverage: 28%
• I don’t know where to get this service: 23%
• I don’t have reliable transportation: 23%
• Appointment times don’t work for me 18%
• They don’t speak my language: 9%

YOUR SOLUTION BUBBLES UP

What is your innovative idea? How do you propose to ensure that 100% of people needing behavioral health care can get it in a timely manner? Your goal is to create a solution that can work in this society of 40,000 people, creating a seamless system of accessible behavioral health care.

SCORE BIG!

The Three-Headed Hydra Foundation awaits your groundbreaking solution. Submit your brilliant idea to our expert review panel who will score your idea based on:

• Originality!
• Creativity!!
• Team Spirit!!!

BE REWARDED

Send your idea* in today. $1,000,000.00 can be yours.

*Note: Unlike other foundations, the Three-Headed Hydra Foundation does not require a data-driven strategy with evidence-informed policies, programs or protocols. Far from it. We love hunches. And no evaluation plan required. If no idea is deemed brilliant enough by our experts, next year the prize is a jaw-dropping $2,000,000.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN REALITY

The behavioral health care challenge is very real, as was the data provided earlier about gaps in services in one county that reflects the reality in other counties. Societies where half the local population seeking help can’t easily access it, are in serious trouble. Should we wait for foundations to fund solutions to this pressing challenge? If so, how long do we wait?

Instead, might a groundbreaking strategy be for local heroes to commit to solving this particular challenge through innovative thinking and partnerships with local leaders in county government, city government, the schools, health care and the private sector?

Why wait when heroes exist?

*The future is what we make it. Join the evolution.

Please excuse any typos as I construct an article at 3am on only one cup of Joe. These stories are mine and mine alone. I do not represent any organization here. If one of my illustrations looks like a real human or three-headed hydra, that’s total coincidence. Words and images ©Dominic Cappello but share with everyone you know. Questions? The Plan Forward awaits you here: www.tenvitalservices.org