Experts say a lack of funding and resources could prevent Americans from getting the mental health care they need.
“Let’s talk about resources, so we can talk about a mental health crisis,” Susan Gurley, executive director of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, said Wednesday morning during a panel discussion, “Every Mind Matters: The Diverse Dimensions of Mental Illness.” “Sho,” he said. .
The event was moderated by Bob Cusack, editor-in-chief of The Hill, and sponsored by pharmaceutical company Otsuka.
This conversation took place amidst the ongoing mental health crisis in the country.
According to a 2021 study, two in five American adults report experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. Approximately 5 percent of U.S. adults also report symptoms of schizophrenia, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Wednesday’s event brought together lawmakers, mental health experts, and advocates to discuss how to break down the stigma associated with mental health and build a comprehensive health care system that supports individuals affected by mental illness. We discussed such things.
Lawmakers seemed to agree that a lack of resources is making it harder for people who need support to get it, and that more investment in mental health is needed.
“For every dollar we spend on mental health treatment, we get $12 back,” said Rep. David Trone (D-Md.). “As a result, we underinvest in our most precious resource: our children.”
“That’s why we’re all here for the next generation,” he added.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) advocated for increased funding for programs such as education and prison reform to ensure Americans get to the root of the problem.
“We have to put more resources into it,” McClain said, “whether you look at the prison system or the addiction system. If you peel back the onion, you can restore mental health. I’ll come.”
Both senators, who co-chair the House Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Task Force, said mental health is an issue most members can agree on.
Through our work on select committees, 26 mental health bills were signed into law over the past year. The Senate has also adopted their efforts, they said, pointing to the bipartisan Republican launch on Tuesday. mental health caucus.
Wednesday’s panelists explained that mental health affects people on both sides of the aisle.
“Mental health doesn’t look Republican or Democratic, it doesn’t look independent, it doesn’t look like all of us,” Daniel Gillison, CEO of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), said Wednesday. It looks like.”
Tron and McClain said rural areas in both districts had seen improved resources even before the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting disparities in mental health resources.
“My district has a lot of rural communities, and we did a lot of telehealth,” McClain said, referring to the pandemic era. “Mental health has been a huge plus because before, if you had money, you had to drive two hours, but now you have internet access and you can hold mental health meetings on Zoom.”
“I understand it’s not perfect and it’s not as good as sitting down one-on-one, but it’s much better,” she added, adding that telemedicine has only had an impact on changing people’s minds. Not, but [to] People from rural communities like the one I represent. ”
Tron agreed, calling telemental health a “game changer,” especially in rural areas where addiction is the biggest problem.
Other panelists agreed that America’s health care system needs to be improved to address the mental health issues Americans face every day.
“I was offered the best of the best, and it fell woefully short,” said Gabe Howard, an author and mental health advocate. “I can only imagine what it’s like in rural areas without health insurance or protection factors.”
Howard, now 46, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 26.
Throughout the first 26 years of his life, those around him, including his parents, thought he had behavioral problems and did not believe he had a mental illness. It was. Howard even said he has suicidal thoughts on a regular basis and accepts it as normal.
He was not diagnosed with the disorder until he was treated in a psychiatric hospital.
“At the end of the day, we need a major restructuring,” Howard said.
Gurley said another factor preventing Americans from receiving proper care is the lack of mental health workers.
She encouraged lawmakers to address the shortfall when developing mental health policy. Gurley concluded that while it was important to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, the conversation could become “pointless” unless improvements were made.
If people finally accept that they need help and seek out a therapist, but there is no one available, that person’s mental health can deteriorate further, she added.
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