May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Each May, mental health providers and agencies prepare themselves for Mental Health Awareness month by exploring opportunities to increase public awareness and understanding regarding mental health. A great example, "Hope for the Mentally Ill," was aired on KEYE-TV, reported by news anchor and New Milestones Foundation Board Member Michelle Valles.

But over the last couple of years, addressing people's mental health needs has become increasingly critical. Primary care physicians report dramatic rises in the difficulty of obtaining mental health services for their patients and more than two-thirds of the doctors were unable to obtain outpatient mental health services for their patients (twice the number that reported difficulty accessing other specialists).

Nationwide, community mental health centers are experiencing a 20 percent increase in demand for services, according to a recent survey by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. At the same time, demand is increasing, at least 32 states are known to be enacting mental health funding cuts -- reducing services, closing programs, imposing hiring freezes, and cutting or freezing reimbursement rates for providers.

However, I am hopeful. With 27 days left in the Legislative Session, funds have been included in the budget bills on transitional services for the mentally ill, continuation of new crisis funds and bills to address mental health treatment for returning veterans. Progression and continued improvements can build toward a true "system of care." The big unknown is the stimulus money impact and hopefully the "Rider 48" provisions can be used to expand service access.