When someone experiences a mental health challenge—like anxiety, depression, or trauma—they enter what’s called the behavioral health system of care. But what exactly does that mean?
Let’s break it down using a simple metaphor: a bathtub.
The Behavioral Health System as a Bathtub
Imagine the behavioral health system as a large bathtub. Each drop of water represents a person in our community experiencing a mental health concern. The more drops that enter the bathtub, the fuller it gets—symbolizing how many people are seeking care.
Now imagine that some of the water in the bathtub evaporates. That evaporation represents recovery—people who get better and no longer need mental health care services. If the water in the bathtub does not evaporate fast enough, the bathtub will fill up quickly. A full bathtub means all the resources to help people with their mental health concerns are full, and new people entering the system cannot get care quickly.
When the bathtub gets too full, a leak might form. Water that leaves through a leak represents the tragic outcome of people dying due to untreated or severe mental health conditions.
The good news? There are no leaks in the bathtub right now. But it’s getting full.
An Overwhelmed System of Care
In many communities, the behavioral health system is overwhelmed. More people are entering than are recovering, and that imbalance strains the entire system. Even when a family acts quickly to get help—through a school, a doctor, or a community resource—they may find the system under pressure. This can look like long wait times to receive care or having to travel to see a specialist because there aren’t any in your area.
So how do we make the system work better? How do we start to turn down the tap to keep the bathtub from overflowing?
Turning Down the Tap with Prevention
At the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, we believe the answer is prevention and early intervention. Instead of waiting for children and families to reach a point of crisis, we invest in programs that reduce the number of mental and behavioral health challenges in our community to begin with.
By strengthening families, supporting schools, and building community-wide wellness, we reduce the flow of new “drops” into the bathtub—keeping the system balanced and effective for everyone.
Learn more about our approach.