…”there can be no health without mental health”

- William Emmet, Director, Campaign for Mental Health Reform, September 10, 2008.

Cenpatico welcomes the “merry month” of May not only because it is the harbinger of real Spring for much of the country, but because it is Mental Health Awareness month.  Two weeks ago I commented on the staggering impact of alcohol abuse in our country. Here are some of the staggering facts about the overall impact of mental illness and substance abuse in our country(1):

* One in four adults Americans has a mental disorder, substance use disorder, or both
* Mental Illness is the leading cause of disability in North America for people between the ages of 15 and 44.  Further, the burden of disease from mental disorders exceeds those from any other health condition.
* Adults with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years sooner than those who do not have mental illness.
* Roughly 30,000 + people take their own lives each year.  Suicide is often the third leading cause of death for young people aged 10-24.
* Treatment for mental health and substance use disorders is effective.  Recovery rates for mental illness are comparable to and even surpass the treatment success rates for many physical health conditions.

As you know, health care reform is a hot topic now, and thanks to the recent parity legislation, behavioral health is becoming a more prominent issue.  But don’t relax yet; we still have a long way to go.  I continue to be disappointed in the lack of meaningful presence at the national healthcare reform table by advocates, behavioral health provider associations, and, yes, leaders from the managed behavioral health care industry.  All three groups have critical experience and knowledge that needs to be discussed and shared in any effort to reform our system.   Toward this end of healthcare reform that understands the role of behavioral healthcare, Cenpatico endorses the principles outlined by the National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD):

1) Behavioral healthcare is essential to healthcare reform.  (See the well known stat’s above if you have any questions or doubts)

2) Coverage does not guarantee access.  For example, adults with serious mental illness (SMI) are a medically vulnerable population and need consistent and ongoing support not only in adhering to a viable behavioral health treatment plan, but also a physical health plan.  Often adults with SMI are compromised by their illness to a point where they are not able to effectively access medical help even with coverage.  Further, there are many in the physical health side of our healthcare system that avoid and discriminate adults with SMI, usually out of a lack of understanding, communication and support.

3) Prevention and wellness strategies are essential.  We still focus too much in our healthcare system on treatment versus prevention and wellness.

4) Integration of behavioral healthcare and physical healthcare.

5) Embrace recovery principles:  Among these are self-direction by consumers, individualized treatment, strengths-based approaches, and peer support.

6) Mental health workforce development.  In particular for the Medicaid consumer, we are facing a crisis of having access to appropriately trained prescribers for psychotropic medicines.  We have to provide better training and support of all physicians as well as adding different types of prescribers due to the psychiatrist shortage.

But what about just maintaining good mental health in the absence of a diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse disorder?  I love the Mental Health America site “Live Your Life Well”  www.liveyourlifewell.org.  They have identified the best top ten list I’ve seen for maintaining your emotional and overall mental health.  I think everyone should have this list in their wallet/purse printed as a reminder to:

1 – Connect with others
2 – Stay positive
3 – Get physically active
4 – Help others
5 – Get enough sleep
6 – Create joy and satisfaction
7 – Eat well
8 – Take care of your spirit
9 – Deal better with hard times

and most important if the top 9 aren’t working, 10- Seek professional help when you need it.

I hope that all of you will pay attention to healthcare reform in Washington.  Get involved and find out where your local representatives and Senators stand on the principles outlined by  NACBHDD.  Make sure they understand that without good behavioral healthcare, there is no effective healthcare in the United States.

(1)SAMHSA Communication Dialogue, National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), April 2, 2009.

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