by Robin Blakely
Special to the Journal
Depression. Bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia.
The mere mention of these diseases can scare us because most of our lives will be touched by one of these mental illnesses through someone we care about. Yet, most of us don’t know what to do to actively prevent mental illness or to change whatever needs to be changed to improve healthcare services for people who are sick now.
“For most of us, the scariest part about mental illness is how vulnerable we all are,” said Alan Flory, ReDiscover CEO and president. “Mental illnesses are physical brain disorders which disrupt a person’s ability to think, feel and relate to others. Mental illnesses can affect people of all backgrounds and all stages of life. Absolutely no one is immune. The first step to helping us fight mental illness is understanding that this is a very personal fight for each and everyone of us.”
Mental illnesses are much more common than most people have typically understood – and there are many different kinds of illnesses, not just one. The cost of mental illnesses on individuals, families and the community is huge, and the need for services is increasing.
According to The World Health Organization, mental illnesses rank first in terms of causing disability in the United States and, collectively, is the most prevalent problem in America today. Mental illness is more common than cancer and lung and heart diseases combined.
Mental health needs are increasing in Missouri on a myriad of fronts:
- More people are losing health insurance from their work place,
- Private hospital beds for mental illnesses have been reduced in the region, and
- Hospital emergency rooms are overwhelmed with mental health and substance abuse problems that could and should be treated earlier and elsewhere.
“I’m often asked what needs to be changed to improve care for the family members and friends who are sick now,” Flory said. “The needs are so great that many times caring individuals who want to help may feel paralyzed about what they can or should do to make a real difference.”
One way to make a difference is to personally tour a community mental health center to see firsthand what programs and services are actually available locally.
ReDiscover is a nonprofit community mental health center that provides hope and help for recovery from mental illnesses and substance dependency. Through the years, community mental health centers like ReDiscover have consistently worked with the business community, the schools, the juvenile justice system, disaster response teams, special populations and numerous government and private agencies. When you tour a facility, you will discover many ways that you can provide time, talent and support that can help change lives.
Another way to make a difference is to let your concerned voice be heard by elected officials in federal, state and local districts. A new vehicle to inform legislators of the need for mental health services is called voterVOICE. The online voterVOICE service enables supporters to send on point, quality messages quickly and easily. Information about this free service can be found at www.rediscovermh.org or www.votervoice.net/groups/mccmhc/register.
“Voters who speak up can and do make a huge impact. More community support means more attention to funding for mental health care services,” Flory said. “Recently, Missouri’s House Budget Committee finalized their budget. Mental healthcare for Missourians fared relatively well in the process. The Budget Committee offered a 3 percent increase for community providers, which is an increase equal to that given to state employees. This is a drastically needed budget adjustment after years of inequity. Budget decisions like this help make quality care possible for those who critically need recovery services in our community.”
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health issues, ReDiscover’s 24-hour access line is 816-966-0900.
###
Posted by rediscovernews 