<Entrepreneur discusses mental health services for diverse populations>
Las Vegas native and founder of Mingo Health Solutions (MHS) and nonprofit Solutions of Change, Dinisha Mingo recently appeared on the Watching Mental Health podcast with host Katie Rose Waechter. The segment, titled Mental Health Among Diverse Populations in Las Vegas, discussed how Mingo started both MHS and nonprofit, which serves uninsured and underinsured populations. She also offered ideas for improving mental health access in the state.
The entrepreneur started Mingo Health Solutions in 2016 to address deficiencies she saw in the delivery of mental health services, especially to minority populations.
“I saw some things that I didn’t think were representing a standard of excellence in terms of treatment, a lack of training, and it didn’t seem like some of the people that I was surrounded by were as caring about those pieces as I was,” she recalled.
Mingo also said by providing mental health service access to underserved minority populations, MHS and Solutions of Change are, in a way “giving them permission” to get the help they need, while also addressing very real barriers people face to finding care.
“Our approach is comprehensive,” she added. “It’s seeing that whole person and all the barriers, especially for minorities who tend to have disadvantages in terms of social determinants of health, and recognizing that [they] likely have some other things that are impacting [their] mental health.”
Solutions of Change was “directly birthed” out of Mingo Health Solutions because of challenges Mingo saw with insurance providers limiting or denying coverage due to a lack of understanding of the care needs for certain populations. Now, with cases where payers minimize or deny care, Solutions of Change providers can often step in.
Mingo also shared three suggestions to help improve mental health care access for all Nevadans. They revolve around reducing the stress providers take on when practicing in an underserved state. The suggestions include:
· Reciprocity for out-of-state providers and making licensing for them quicker and easier to obtain
· Addressing low reimbursement rates from insurance providers
· Creating laws to help remove administrative burdens for therapists
“We need to have some reform in our system because It would help providers feel more comfortable, so we can focus on what we love, which is helping people,” she said.
To listen to the podcast, visit The Watching Mental Health podcast web page or Katierosewaechter.com/episodes. Learn more about Dinisha Mingo at mhsbehavioralservices.com/mental-health-counseling-las-vegas/
