Health Care Reform and Mental Health
Last week, WEGO Health partnered with branding firm Siegel+Gale to survey the general public and Health Activists on their understanding of the President's plan for health care reform.
The results were telling. Most Americans do not understand the plan. Even those who consider themselves health-savvy or pro-President Obama did not fully comprehend the general points of the new reform. You can read the full report here (pdf).
Last week 102 Health Activists participated in the survey, but it's still a hot topic and a really important issue and we'd like to hear from everyone. We want to learn more about what you're seeing online:
Do you think members of your other online health communities have a good understanding of the changes proposed in the President's health care plan?
More specifically: How do you think health care reform would affect people with mental health problems or mental illnesses? What do you think could positively affect the mental health community? What sort of treatment for mental health conditions would you like to be included in the new health care plan? What facilities, procedures, and options should be added?
The results were telling. Most Americans do not understand the plan. Even those who consider themselves health-savvy or pro-President Obama did not fully comprehend the general points of the new reform. You can read the full report here (pdf).
Last week 102 Health Activists participated in the survey, but it's still a hot topic and a really important issue and we'd like to hear from everyone. We want to learn more about what you're seeing online:
Do you think members of your other online health communities have a good understanding of the changes proposed in the President's health care plan?
More specifically: How do you think health care reform would affect people with mental health problems or mental illnesses? What do you think could positively affect the mental health community? What sort of treatment for mental health conditions would you like to be included in the new health care plan? What facilities, procedures, and options should be added?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tony on -
To be honest I haven't looked at Obama's health plan in any great detail but I will say this much, I will welcome any health care plan that will stop people dying or suffering just because they don't have enough money. Its going to help people who need mental and or physical help. No doubt about it.As far as mental health is concerned I would like to see a concerted campaign to remove the stigma which surrounds mental health so that people feel comfortable about coming forward and getting help.
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Permalink Reply by amanda on -
I think health care reform would definitely help the Mental Health community. It's almost incredible to imagine how many people's lives would be different if they had access to health care, medication, and therapy treatments.
Many symptoms of mental illness can prevent a person from working either full-time or at all - thus limiting their health insurance options. But instead of living horrible, lonely lives - they can be helped if only they were given the option. I remember watching a show where a town's local law enforcement went around helping people who were suicidal, bringing them in, and getting them the help that they needed. I wish I could remember where this was - but it was truly inspiring. After receiving calls from people who were suicidal, the small group of officers went around with their van and helped bring these people to safety. Many of them did not have health insurance. And many of them were released too soon from care facilities for lack of financial support. And when people are re-released into society without necessary treatment or tools - they are likely to fall back into a bad place. I think health care reform can turn this around.
One of the hardest things about mental illness is the person's inability to help themselves even when they know that they need it. Their depression or anxiety or inability to leave home for other reasons really prevents many from receiving care. This combined with a person's lack of insurance and affordable care means even more people are suffering. If an illness is curable, and a person's basic needs and basic quality of life can be drastically improved - shouldn't everyone have equal access?
This is especially important because so many low/no income families, homeless people, addicts, and others are suffering their financial plight because of another mental illness. If they were given access to health care, therapy, and medication - many of them would become active positive contributors to society. So many people overlook the underlying cause of homelessness and label it "laziness." Many of these people (some we walk by every day) are actually suffering from PTSD, bipolar, schizophrenia, or other reasonably manageable mental conditions. I would like to see what health care reform could do for these people especially. I think we would be surprised how effective they can be when provided the right treatment and help. We already have many ways to treat these illnesses, it's the accessibility that needs to improve.
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Permalink Reply by Tony on
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That's interesting what you said about people being released too soon from care facilities for lack of financial support. I am a UK citizen and over here we have the care in the community policy. It looks like a good idea on paper but the reality is something different. This act was brought in by the government to primarily cut public spending, as a result people have been released from care facilities to soon and gone on to kill other people or themselves.
Here is one such story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8282876.stm
So ultimately its one thing to have a good policy but having it implemented and carried out properly is another.
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