A Need for Treatment
Exists
More than 44 million Americans suffer from a
mental health disorder and approximately four million youth
(ages nine to 17) suffer from a mental health disorder
(National Institutes of Mental Health). A majority of those
with significant mental health problems in the United States
receive no treatment, according to multiple studies (e.g.,
recent studies published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association, Health Affairs, Archives of
General Psychiatry.)
Response to Treatment
Approaches to treatment may include both
psychotherapy and the use of medications. An individual's
response to treatment is often governed by how serious is
the disorder, the person's response to psychotherapy, and the
person's response to medications (if used).
Nine out of 10 Americans say that psychotherapy helped them
(American Psychological Association survey, 2004).
Barriers to Treatment: Stigma
Most often, reluctance to seek care is an
unfortunate outcome of very real barriers. Foremost among
these is the stigma that many in our society attach to
mental illness and to people who have a mental illness.
Stigma erodes confidence that mental disorders are valid,
treatable health conditions. It leads people to avoid
socializing, employing or working with, or renting to or
living near persons who have a mental disorder, especially a
severe disorder like schizophrenia.
Unfortunately, the stigma sometimes associated with mental
health problems or mental illness deters the public from
wanting to pay for care and, thus, reduces consumers' access
to resources and opportunities for treatment and social
services. A consequent inability or failure to obtain
treatment reinforces destructive patterns of low
self-esteem, isolation and hopelessness. Stigma tragically
deprives people of their dignity and interferes with their
full participation in society. It must be overcome.
Barriers to Treatment: Cost
Mental Health Parity is the principle that
mental health and physical health issues should be treated
equally.
Currently, in states such as Michigan, health insurance
benefits for mental health disorders are much smaller than
benefits for other legitimate health conditions. "This
discrimination in access to care is evidenced by limited
coverage, punitive co-pays and restricted access to
hospitalization during acute episodes and what one would
logically conclude would occur for other untreated or
under-treated serious illnesses." (NAMI)
Thirty-eight states have endorsed some sort of mental
health parity legislation which has not had a noticeable
impact on health insurance premiums.
Specific Mental Illnesses:
There are many sources of information about
mental illnesses available on the internet. However, you
should use caution about which sites you use. Although not
all inclusive, the sites listed under
Online Information are
reliable sources of public information about specific mental
illnesses.
Mental Health Links:
