Cenpatico Blog

Next time you find yourself among a crowd, take a moment to survey the scene and think about this simple, yet startling fact from the National Institute of Mental Health – In any given year, one-fourth of adults in the U.S. suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder.

In short, mental illness is everywhere, and chances are great that it has recently impacted you or someone close to you. That is why this May, Cenpatico, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and many other organizations throughout the nation are celebrating National Mental Health Month.

This month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is encouraging everyone to seek out events in their respective communities throughout the country to raise awareness of mental illness.

Mental Health America (MHA), which began recognizing ‘May is Mental Health Month’ back in 1949, encourages Americans to be proactive about maintaining mental health with its “Live Your Life Well” campaign. “Live your Life Well” is a national public education campaign designed to help people handle the stresses of daily life and, in doing so, enhance the individual’s and family’s overall quality of life. The campaign includes various mental health-related fact sheets in addition to “10 research-based, straight-forward tools and ways to apply them in every day life.”

In addition to advocacy groups, governors, mayors and other local, state and federal officials are joining the push to raise additional awareness and support for the mentally ill this month.

“Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall physical health and emotional well-being, and caring for your mind as well as your body is good for your overall health and vital for success in personal life, at work and at school,” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said in his proclamation of May 2010 as Mental Health Month in his state.

Through fund-raising, volunteering and other avenues available to you, Cenpatico encourages everyone to help our nation raise awareness of mental illness this May.

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For the first time in its history, Centene Corporation, the parent company of Cenpatico Behavioral Health, LLC, has been recognized a Fortune 500 company by Fortune magazine.

Each year, Fortune publishes a report on the largest companies by revenue. This year, with 2009 revenues of $4.1 billion, Centene ranked No. 486 – breaking into the top 500 for the first time.

“The new milestone underscores the strong and consistent growth we’ve worked hard to achieve,” said Centene Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael F. Neidorff. “It is recognition that we are navigating Centene toward a prosperous future, despite the difficult and volatile economic climate.”

“I would like to use this occasion to commend every employee for their contribution to our achievement, and also for their everyday efforts to bring better health outcomes to our 1.5 million members,” Neidorff added.

In 2008, Centene ranked No. 609 with revenues of $3.3 billion.

“Going forward, I am convinced we will continue to reach new milestones as we expand our ability to offer innovative, low-cost solutions to states for high quality health care services for the un-insured and under-insured,” Neidorff said.

This entry is filed under News.

Nearly two years ago, Cenpatico launched the Provider Profiling Initiative (PPI) to improve services and outcomes for all members.  The PPI also identifies and rewards providers who demonstrate service excellence and adherence to Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (EBPs).

We would like to hear from your Clinical Director or Director of Outpatient Programs regarding your agency’s use of EBPs.  Please visit the Provider homepage of the Cenpatico website to take our brief survey.  To access the survey, please click here, or click on the graphic below.  We look forward to hearing from you!

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In an effort to promote the idea of complete health and wellness for both body and mind, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recently launched Hearts & Minds, an online self-help health education program centering around three main principles: stop smoking, eat healthy, and exercise.

This simple, yet powerful message is echoed throughout the initiative by a handful of professionals and advocates, including NAMI Medical Director Ken Duckworth, M.D., and through testimonials from people who have seen personal improvement in their lives through this integration of physical and mental health.

Duckworth also penned one of the most helpful resources available on the website, “Roadmap to Wellness for Individuals Living with Mental Illness.”

Providing an introduction to the Hearts & Minds philosophy, the Roadmap details topics such as Medical Self Advocacy, provides a guide to smoking cessation and for dealing with substance abuse and alcoholism, and it promotes a physically health lifestyle centering around exercise and healthy eating.

“Food doesn’t just feed our bodies,” states the website, “it also nourishes our minds.”

The Hearts & Minds campaign presents evidence of the link between physical health and mental health in a clear, easy to understand format with real life applications. One example they present is the increased risk of diabetes for those living with mental illness and the affects of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes on people living with mental illness.

In addition to the Roadmap, some of the downloadable resources include a goal-setting worksheet, complete with tips and ideas for creating and maintaining realistic goals, starter food and exercise journal sheets and a document designed to help individuals keep track of their current medications and other health information.

Cenpatico is pleased to be a long time supporter of NAMI, an organization whose initiatives and programs promote recovery through self-directed care, mental health education and advocacy.  Hearts & Minds promotes and celebrates a philosophy of overall health through self-advocacy, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining knowledge of your family’s medical history, particularly with respect to heart health, and open communication with your doctor.

“If you’re doctor doesn’t ask you if your parents have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or diabetes, you need to tell them,” states Duckworth in the video. “And then you need to demand [the doctors] put resources in your hands to help yourself.”

And thanks to NAMI, Hearts & Minds has made helpful resources available on demand.

Jimmy Donovan

Research Specialist

This entry is filed under Blog.

YUMA, Arizona – Crossroads Mission is scheduled to break ground on a new family shelter Thursday. The ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m at 944 S. Arizona Avenue, is the first step in the creation of a new shelter that will provide 100 beds for families in need in Yuma.

Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona (Cenpatico of Arizona) provided Crossroads Mission with $25,000 in community reinvestment funds to contribute towards the new family shelter. Cenpatico of Arizona CEO Terry Stevens will join Crossroads Mission Executive Director Myra Garlit and representatives from the City of Yuma at Thursday’s groundbreaking.

“One of the things we do at Cenpatico is give back to our local communities,” Stevens said.  “We’re a proud partner with the Yuma community, and this much needed facility is part of Cenpatico’s effort to contribute to the good work being done here.”

Crossroads Mission is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year.  The private non-profit provides emergency shelter, clothing and meals to homeless, needy and poor citizens of Yuma County. For more information, visit http://www.crossroadsmission.org.

Cenpatico is the Regional Behavioral Health Authority for Yuma County.  Cenpatico facilitates the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services to behavioral health recipients under a contract with the Arizona Department of Health Services/Division of Behavioral Health.  For more information, visit:  www.cenpaticoaz.com.

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