Why Vantage Mental Health Chose the Non-Profit Model
When starting a new medical practice, the structure of your organization plays a pivotal role in shaping its future. Just as you define your mission and vision, the way your business is organized impacts its success and longevity. At Vantage Mental Health, we understand the urgency of today’s mental health crisis—both for patients and providers alike.
The Mental Health Crisis: Patients in Need
The mental health crisis in the U.S. has reached critical levels. Millions of individuals face challenges in accessing timely and effective care. According to the CDC and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness, yet many of them are unable to get the help they need due to long wait times, rising costs, or lack of access to care. This gap between those in need and the services available continues to widen.
The Crisis for Providers: Burnout and Limited Capacity
The mental health crisis doesn't just affect patients—it profoundly impacts providers as well. Mental health professionals, including therapists and psychiatrists, are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout. Research shows that nearly 78% of therapists have reported symptoms of burnout, and 59% of psychiatrists have considered leaving the profession in the past year due to overwhelming workloads . This exodus of skilled professionals further reduces access to care, making it difficult to meet the increasing demand for mental health services.
Why a Non-Profit Model: Prioritizing Patients, Providers, and Community
When Justin Gerstner founded Vantage Mental Health, one of the most critical decisions was how to structure the organization. After careful consideration, the decision was made to establish Vantage Mental Health as a non-profit. This decision wasn’t made lightly, as non-profit organizations face additional regulations and must operate under the guidance of a board of directors. However, this choice aligns with our core mission and values for several important reasons:
Profit Has No Place in Healthcare
In a for-profit healthcare model, long term value (profit) is required to dictate decisions—sometimes at the expense of patients, providers, and the quality of care. At Vantage, we believe that mission should dictate decisions in healthcare business and any revenue generated should be reinvested directly into services, expanding access, supporting our team members, and improving outcomes for clients. We have witnessed firsthand how for-profit models raise costs, limit access, and diminish the quality of care. By remaining a non-profit, we ensure that every dollar benefits our community instead of enriching shareholders.The Importance of a Board of Directors
Non-profit organizations are guided by a board of directors, ensuring that no single individual holds all decision-making power. This model brings greater transparency and accountability to every aspect of the organization. Decisions are made collaboratively, with input from individuals dedicated to the mission and success of the organization. This structure also prevents the pitfalls that can come when an organization is driven by a single owner whose primary goal is financial gain.Freedom from Ownership: Avoiding Market-Driven Decisions
Without private ownership, Vantage Mental Health is free from the pressure of being sold or inflated in value to attract buyers. This allows us to make decisions solely based on what is best for our clients, providers, and the community, without being influenced by market trends or the potential for financial gain. Our focus remains squarely on improving mental health care—not maximizing profit margins.
Our Mission: Advancing Community Well-Being
At Vantage Mental Health, our mission is clear: to advance community well-being by providing and supporting transparent, accessible mental health services. We accomplish this by prioritizing the needs of clients and providers, free from the influence of profit-driven motives.
Having the right "Vantage" means gaining a clear perspective on where we’ve been and where we are going. With clarity and determination, we’re committed to improving mental health care—one patient, one provider, and one community at a time. We're here for that.