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KEY ISSUES | LEGISLATION | BUDGET & FUNDING

Current Issues in Mental Health Advocacy

Background

More than 260,000 people in Cuyahoga County suffer from mental illnesses. Fathers and mothers. Sons and daughters. Grandparents and grandchildren. Your friends, neighbors or co-workers. Mental health services can help make a big difference in the lives of those affected by mental illnesses…Help them build healthier, happier lives. Help strengthen and empower individuals and families. And help them find and hold jobs, return to school and work, and stay out of trouble.

That's why the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (MHAC) provides a unified voice around the continuous challenges to public policies and government funding of the mental health system. The MHAC joins together diverse organizations representing mental health providers, philanthropy, business, nonprofit, faith based, education and government organizations to address Cuyahoga County mental health issues.

Together, we have developed a two-year issue agenda designed to enhance funding for and expand access to mental health services, address multi-need consumers and improve awareness of mental health issues. We seek your participation in and support of our agenda to provide the best possible services to the members of our community affected by mental health issues. Through our collaborative efforts and voices, we our friends, families and neighbors—live healthier, successful lives while making our community stronger.

KEY ISSUES:

•  Preserving and enhancing funding for mental health

For the past decade, Ohio 's public mental health system has experienced a pattern of reduced funding. In this time of financial belt-tightening, it is critical that the historically under-funded and underprioritized mental health system is prioritized or we will pay in other ways—including lost productivity and unemployment, school dropouts, increased drug and alcohol dependence, more reliance on welfare programs and increased criminal justice costs. Inadequate funding is adversely impacting our ability to meet the demand for services for affected adults and children. We must sustain our thinning mental health safety net.

•  Supporting delivery and expansion of care by modifying government policies

MHAC seeks to improve consumer rights and increase access through legislative change such as mental health parity and Medicaid Buy-In. In addition, the system forces staff to look only for the medical model of diagnosis, treatment and medication rather than in terms of health, wellness and strength. Regulatory requirements must be reduced to decrease budget strain on provider agencies and enable clinicians to dedicate more time to service provision.

•  Supporting systems of care that address multiple needs of all consumers, including children, transitional youth, adults and older persons

Of those people with mental illnesses, 57 percent have more than one diagnosed mental disorder. Mental health services must be expanded to address the multiple needs of all consumers. We need a behavioral health care system that provides prevention; early intervention; and home, community-based, residential and aftercare services to every individual in need. MHAC will also work to meet the needs of all members of society - from children and transitional youth to adults and older persons. For example, to reach children, MHAC is devising a behavioral health disorder prevention, early intervention and treatment plan. The plan would roll out strategies including screening children, youth and families at critical entry points, such as public health clinics, child welfare, juvenile courts, day-care and pre-schools.

•  Raising awareness, knowledge and understanding

Those of us who live with mental illness—directly or indirectly—understand that mental health issues remain poorly misunderstood. We must engage in a public awareness campaign to eliminate stigma and confusion associated with mental health.

• Mental disorders are the largest and costliest illness related cause of disability, a major cause of school failure and a major factor in chronic homelessness.
• Mental illnesses are the leading cause of suicide.
• The total cost of mental illnesses to society is about equal to the total cost of all cancers or all heart disease.
• Mental illnesses are more expensive to ignore than to treat. Although mental illnesses are national epidemics, people often do not seek the services they truly need. Unfortunately, stigma, insurance status, undiagnosed and misdiagnosed mental illness, lack of support, or other barriers prevent people from seeking the adequate care they so desperately need. To build awareness, MHAC advocates for increased education of mental health issues, integrating mental health into general health care practices, and will support mental health research and its dissemination. MHAC also recognizes the importance of presenting and pursuing mental health issues as equal rights issues.

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