Vol 24, No 2

 

Soon after our last issue of the "Advocate" went to press, the office of the U.S. Surgeon General released its first-ever report devoted to mental health. The document states that one in five Americans experiences a mental disorder in any given year, and half the population has such disorders during their lifetime, but the majority of those affected don`t seek treatment.

The report, published in mid-December, concluded that "a range of effective treatments exist for nearly all mental disorders," including the most severe. However, it was recognized that many persons with mental illness don't realize this; or fear discrimination because of stigma; or can't afford treatment because they lack insurance coverage for mental health.

Entitled "Mental Health: A Report oT the Surgeon General.' the document says recent studies suggest 22% of the population has a diagnosable mental disorder. It also states "mental illness, including suicide. is the second-leading cause of disability." behind heart disease, but almost two-thirds of those with diagnosable disorders aren't getting treatment. The report defines mental disorders as health conditions marked by alterations in mood, thought or behavior that causes distress or impairs one's ability to function.

Efforts in Congress and many states to eliminate insurance coverage disparities between

...mental illness,
including suicide, is
the second-leading
cause of disability...

mental illnesses and other medical conditions--a concept known as parity--were characterized by the report as "an affordable and effective objective," yielding "negligible cost increases" in today's managed are markets. [Editor's Note: Michigan is one of only 20 states lacking some form of mental health parity law. A state-wide coalition with over 80 member organizations is working hard to change that. To learn more about Michigin Partners For Parity and how you can become involved in its work, contact Mark Reinstein at the Mental Health Association in Michigan (MHAM) state headquarters--248/557-6777.]

The report cites the importance of expanding "the supply" of mental health services and the need to increase the number of mental health professionals caring for minors. It also presents the following points:

Mental disorders appear across all types of families, social classes, and backgrounds. Treatment of mental disorders excluding Alzheimcr's disease cost the nation $69 billion in 1996. Alzheimer`s added another $17.7 billion and addiction disorders another $12.6 billion. None of these figures include indirect costs, like workdays lost to mental illness. One in five children experience signs and symptoms of a diagnosable mental disorder in the course of a year. About five percent of children encounter "extreme functional impairment." Among the elderly, depression is a significant problem, with high prevalence rates for seniors living in the community and in primary care settings. Persons 65 and older also have the highest suicide rates of any age group. Among those age 18-54, the one-year prevalence of any anxiety disorder is 16.4 percent; of any mood is order, 7.1 percent; and of schizophrenia, 1.3 percent. The US mental health system is highly fragmented, presenting a difficult maze to navigate for people needing help. Additionally, front-line health care providers are often unaware of the latest research on treatments.

 

In media interviews accompanying release of the 500-page report, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, was quoted as saying,

"To a great extent, we are dumping our mental health problems on the streets of America. We are dumping them into our jails and prisons."

National Mental Health Association president , Michael Faenza, who served on the planning board for the report, hailed the development and release of the document, but cautioned that "it could be meaningless, if Congress and state legislators do not have the backbone and the political will to act on it."

 

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