Cenpatico Blog

Cenpatico and Managed Health Services (MHS) are pleased to present a one day conference titled “In the Weeds: Barriers and Solutions to Realize Behavioral and Physical Healthcare Integration in Indiana.” The keynote speaker at the conference will be CEO of Cherokee Healthcare Systems of Tennessee, Dr. Dennis Freeman.

The conference, held on June 17th is co-sponsored by the Division of Mental Health and Addictions, Mental Health America of Indiana, the Indiana Primary Health Care Association and the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers.

This entry is filed under News.

-By Cyndi Campbell, Manager, Clinical Research and Development

Last month we shared some statistics about mental health and substance abuse that highlight the impact of behavioral health on our overall wellness and the importance of considering this as we discuss healthcare reform.  The statistics from SAMHSA remind us that behavioral healthcare does not just impact one individual; it affects children and communities for generations.

Recently the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of research on the high rate of occurrence and the impact of children living with substance using or abusing parents.
“The research increasingly shows that children growing up in homes with alcohol- and drug-abusing parents suffer…The chronic emotional stress in such an environment can damage their social and emotional development and permanently impede healthy brain development, often resulting in mental and physical health problems across the lifespan. This underlines the importance of preventive interventions at the earliest possible age.” – SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H.

SAMHSA reports:
•    Almost 7.3 million children lived with a parent who was dependent on or abused alcohol
•    About 2.1 million children lived with a parent who was dependent on or abused illicit drugs
•    5.4 million children lived with a father who met the criteria for past year substance dependence or abuse, and 3.4 million lived with a mother who met these criteria.

Often when a parent’s alcohol or substance abuse is out of control, the child is identified as having a problem first.  Maybe a teacher or school nurse has noticed sleepy eyes or school work below the child’s ability.  Some children begin to take on more responsibility at home as they have gotten used to taking care of their parents and sometimes siblings too.

According to The Center on Addiction and the Family (COAF), the definition of a child of an alcohol or substance abuser “is any child whose parent (or parental caregiver) uses alcohol or other drugs in such a way that it causes problems in the child’s life.”

When parents or caregivers are using or abusing alcohol or other drugs family life can be unpredictable and chaotic.  Frequently communication, rules, or expectations are unclear or inconsistently enforced.  Parents may display wild swings in behavior from loving, to withdrawn, to out of control.  This can be confusing to children leading to feelings of worry, insecurity, anger, and self-blame.

These confusing feelings can become disruptive behaviors for children.  On the surface it may look like, or be expressed as, other commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorders for children such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression.  Children who display these symptoms should be referred to a mental health professional for assessment.

There are many ways even occasional substance use can impact their children.  Substance use for adults can lead to broken marriages, loss of jobs and economic stability in the household.  These types of challenges may seem to the parent to be theirs to deal with, but children feel the effects of the stress as well.  Stress is well known to lead to health problems in adults, but children too can develop physical health problems due to stress such as headaches or asthma.

The encouraging news is only 1 out of every 4 children of alcohol abusers will become an alcoholic themselves, 75% will not (COAF).  Many children with substance using or abusing parents and caregivers are able to find ways to succeed in life. Identifying with positive role models and learning to tap into their own positive coping skills helps children to be resilient and successful.

More resources on this topic can be found at:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration  http://www.samhsa.gov/
Center on Addiction and the Family:  http://www.coaf.org

This entry is filed under Blog.

…”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.

This entry is filed under Blog.

Cenpatico will be a Start/Finish Line Sponsor at the annual NAMI Kansas Walk this Sunday, May 3, 2009.  The two-mile walk will start at 11 am at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

Deb Burnham, Network Manager at Cenpatico, has served on the NAMI Kansas walk committee for the past two years.  She assists with locating entertainment for the event.  This year, Bobbie the Balloon Man, will entertain walkers prior to the start of the walk.  Cenpatico will also provide bottled water for the event.

“Cenpatico’s involvement with NAMI Kansas Walk for the Mind of America demonstrates our commitment to recovery and the importance of raising awareness of the mental health needs of Kansans,” said Deb.

NAMI WALKS for the Mind of America is a fundraising and awareness-raising component of NAMI’s Campaign for the Mind of America.  Launched in 2003 with pilot sites, the NAMI WALKS program has grown to include nearly 70 communities around the country, including the Kansas walk program.

In addition to our involvement with the walk, Cenpatico is also a corporate member of NAMI Kansas.  Click here for more information about NAMI Kansas.

This entry is filed under News.

Cenpatico/IMHS and Prevent Child Abuse Texas are teaming up to train Child Care and School Personnel on child abuse.  The trainings titled Child Abuse and Neglect: It’s Everyone’s Problem hopes to teach Child Care and School personnel how to recognize child abuse and what to do to put an end to it.

“We are pleased that we could assist PCAT in their work towards prevent child abuse across Texas,” said Cenpatico/IMHS Foster Care Training Manager Frank Vega. “Everyday we see the traumatic impact that abuse has in the lives of the children we serve in the STAR Health program. Anything we can do to keep even one kid from experiencing the pain of abuse and neglect is well worth it.”

The training will take place July 11 at the Austin Community College Eastview Campus. Pre-registration costs $15 and on-site registration costs $20. If you are a Child Care or School worker and would like to know more about the training please contact PCAT at (512) 250-8438 x. 18 or e-mail rscoggin@PreventChildAbuseTexas.org

This entry is filed under News.