Since psychiatric treatment differs in several important ways from general medical care, health care system reforms create a number of unique issues for the mental health sector. The need for essential, yet nonmedical, services by the mentally ill complicates development of mental health policy.
Full Answer
Why seek treatment for mental health conditions?
Seeking treatment for mental health conditions is absolutely vital, regardless of what form of treatment you prefer. From medication to therapy to one of our clinical trials, there is a solution out there for every individual and we encourage you to find it so you can live a happier life with good mental health.
Why do we need health care reform?
Here are four key reasons why we need health care reform: The president’s proposal features new rules to ensure that all Americans will be able get health insurance coverage even if they have a pre-existing condition.
How has the debate on mental health reform changed this year?
While much of the debate on both sides appears similar to a year ago, the underlying legislation has changed, and this session's proposals take a more balanced approach to mental health reform than did past proposals, emphasizing both stage 4 crisis response, as well as prevention, early intervention, and care integration. 2.
What is the importance of mental health legislation?
Conclusion Mental health legislation plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, integration of mental health at primary health care, the provision of care of high quality and the improvement of access to care at community level. It is vital and essential to have MHL for every country.
Why mental health reform is important?
Mental Health Reform will help to reduce homelessness among people with mental health or substance use disorders. Integration of mental health care into homeless services and coordination of care between providers can improve health outcomes and reduce homelessness.
What is mental health reform?
Strengthens leadership and accountability for federal mental health programs: • Codifies a Chief Medical Officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (SAMHSA) to advise the Administrator and promote evidence-based and promising best practices.
Why is mental health important in healthcare?
Studies indicate that people use medical services 90 percent less frequently after receiving appropriate mental health care. Mental health services also reduce the risk of chronic diseases related to stress, anxiety and substance abuse.
How can mental health treatment be improved?
I believe we need three key innovations to improve the delivery of mental health care in the U.S.: shifting some tasks to physician extenders, integrating psychiatric care with primary care, and supplementing clinical capacity with software-based therapy tools.
When was mental health reform?
1945 (The Mental Health Reform Act)
Who were important figures in mental health reform changes?
On February 19, 1909, Beers, along with philosopher William James and psychiatrist Adolf Meyer, embraced that future by creating the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, later the National Mental Health Association and what we know today as the Mental Health America.
Why is it important to take care of your mental health essay?
Emotional and mental health is important because it's a vital part of your life and impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Being healthy emotionally can promote productivity and effectiveness in activities like work, school or caregiving.
How effective is mental health treatment?
The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have a significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports.
Why is mental well-being important?
Mental health is essential to our overall well-being and as important as physical health. When we feel mentally well, we can work productively, enjoy our free time, and contribute actively to our communities. This page provides resources to help you keep mentally healthy and to reduce stress.
We need to address adverse health industry practices
The president’s proposal features new rules to ensure that all Americans will be able get health insurance coverage even if they have a pre-existing condition.
We need to provide better health insurance coverage for more Americans
Families and individuals who need to purchase coverage outside their job face many unfair practices in the health insurance market place and are forced to pay exorbitant prices since they cannot exert the purchasing power of a large group.
We need to improve health care and lower health care costs
The president’s proposal promotes innovative new ways to provide higher quality, better coordinated care to better meet the needs of patients and families, especially those with chronic illnesses.
Conclusion
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag says the single most important factor influencing the federal government long-term fiscal balance is the rate of growth in health care costs.
Why do people with mental illnesses lose their life expectancy?
But people with mental illnesses do lose 25 years of life expectancy for a variety of reasons – violence, suicide, and complications from other diseases among them . Early identification and intervention is the way to prevent many of these tragedies, and these proposals move us in that direction. 4.
Is mental health a solution to gun violence?
That should be our top “prevention” priority. Mental health care is not a solution to gun violence, because the correlation between mental health conditions and gun violence is modest.
Is the mental health system underfunded?
The mental health system is deeply broken and underfunded. While these bills lay a foundation for reform, they are still only a beginning. Congress will need to build on them with subsequent legislation to ensure that our mental health system is most effective.
Does H.R. 2646 mandate forced treatment?
The bills do not mandate forced treatment. While H.R. 2646 offers an incentive and funding for states to implement Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), it does not mandate any additional AOT. It also does not change any existing state laws that do not penalize people if they refuse AOT.
Will mental health bills return people to asylum?
Some people think the bills – by opening up more funding for hospitals, too – will return individuals with mental health conditions to asylums. The bills do allow for some additional inpatient stays, which are often necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment plan development.
Why is mental health legislation important?
Mental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often devastating consequences of mental illness. 4,5. In many countries, especially in those ...
What does it mean when there is no mental health service?
In many countries, especially in those that have no MHLs people do not have access to basic mental health care and treatment they require. In others, the absence of community-based mental health care means the only care available is in psychiatric institutions, which are associated with gross human rights violations including inhuman ...
What is the role of MHLs in the community?
The presence of MHLs plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, integration of mental health at primary health care, the provision of care of high quality and the improvement of access to care at community level.
What is the aim of MHL?
One of the major aims of MHL is that all people with mental disorders should be provided with treatment based on the integration of mental health care services into the primary healthcare (PHC). ...
Why is community care important?
People receiving good community care have been shown to have better health and mental health outcomes, and better quality of life , than those treated in psychiatric hospitals. To maximise effectiveness, strong links are needed with other services up and down the pyramid of care.
What is CMHS in healthcare?
Community mental health services (CMHS) refers to a system of care in which the patient’s community, not a specific facility such as a hospital, is the primary provider of care for people with a mental illness.
Why is it important to intervene at primary care level?
In addition, intervening at primary care level helps to minimise stigma and discrimination.5.
Why do people abstain from seeking mental health care?
People of all ages suffer from the effects of mental health stigmas, which can harm their willingness to seek treatment. However, stigma is not the only reason people choose to abstain from seeking mental health treatment. Other barriers to seeking treatment include access to mental health care, inconvenience and the lack ...
How does mental health affect physical health?
Good mental health can also positively physical health by improving sleeping habits, the immune system and lower pain levels.
Why is stigma important in mental health?
In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that the stigma surrounding mental illness was a major factor that deterred people from seeking treatment. “Stigma, defined as negative attitudes held by others, is a barrier to receiving treatment for mental health disorders.
Why do people not get treatment?
These reasons can range from fears of being criticized and ostracized due to their mental illness or even due to personal misunderstandings about the effectiveness of treatment.
Why don't people seek treatment?
Why People Don’t Seek Treatment. One of the major reasons that people forego getting the mental health treatment they need is due to the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and the people who suffer from them. In a 2014 study published in the Journal of Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that the stigma surrounding mental ...
How many people in the US have mental health issues?
One in five Americans suffers from a mental illness and one in 25 Americans suffers from a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or recurring major depression.
Does mental health affect life expectancy?
A 2012 study in the British Medical Journal found that even mild mental health problems can lead to a lower life expectancy. Seeking treatment for mental health conditions is absolutely vital, regardless of what form of treatment you prefer.