Ron Manderscheid, PhD
Executive Director, National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors and National Association for Rural Mental Health
Health strategies in the epilepsy field offer ideas for addressing mental health and substance use disorders.
Ron Manderscheid, PhD
Executive Director, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors and the National Association of Rural Mental Health
It’s no secret that opioid abuse remains a growing problem in the US, notwithstanding increased attention by policymakers, law enforcement and health care professionals from Main Street to the halls of the US Congress. Despite expressions of concern and promises of funding, little has improved the situation. Indeed, as many as 2.4 million American today abuse painkillers; nearly 500,000 more abuse heroin.
“Peer support services work because we instill hope.” That’s the message from Olga Wuerz, an army veteran and certified peer specialist, during a congressional briefing held today by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).
Echoing that message, DBSA president Allen Doederlein shared that by instilling hope through positive self-disclosure, peer support specialists can influence the path to recovery and wellness for individuals living with a mental health condition...
Ron Manderscheid, PhD
Executive Director
National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors
Now is the time to help the 7 million uninsured Americans with behavioral health conditions understand their health coverage.
In a recent post, Hannah Sentenac discussed the challenges young adults face accessing mental healthcare. Because many Millennials are choosing job flexibility and self-employment over traditional employment, they are faced with the costly prospect of purchasing their own health insurance; and many have simply chosen to go without. Even for Millennials who have insurance (either employer-sponsored or self-purchased), high co-pays and hefty out-of-network charges have prevented many from obtaining mental health treatment, she states.
On the May 1 “Access to Care” post, we asked, “If you or a family member needed care today for a mental health or substance use condition, would you be able to get it?”
Access to care can help prevent, delay, and treat mood disorders, other mental conditions, and co-occurring illnesses among the 45.6 million adults and 15.6 million children and youths who experience a mental health condition.
However, in reality:
Let’s explore access challenges to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of behavioral health conditions.
Do you remember the scene in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when Harry and his friends were trying to find their way to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic?
The group arrived at a circular hall with several doors. The doors kept changing places, and the group’s progress was halted. Finding the right door was made almost impossible—aside from the fact that they weren’t entirely sure what they were looking for—by uncontrollable circumstances...
Ron Manderscheid, Ph.D.If you or a family member needed care today for a mental health or substance use condition, would you be able to get it? Mental health and substance use conditions, like depression or inappropriate use of alcohol, are real, treatable health problems. As with other health problems (like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease), people with mental or substance use conditions can lead healthy, productive lives when the health problem is diagnosed and treated. When identified and treated early, the severity and impact of these health issues, including damaging consequences to both the person being treated and her or his family, can be reduced. That’s why the process of getting care—what we refer to as gaining access—is critically important.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and Families for Depression Awareness (FFDA) welcome you to Care for Your Mind!
The Care for Your Mind blog is ours—a place where all of us affected by the mental health care system can spark conversation among our peers, advocates, and thought leaders about the strengths and weaknesses of current mental health care practices and policies in the United States.
What’s vital to Care for Your Mind is you. The blog features regular contributions from a diverse group of policy makers, mental health experts, medical professionals, and health car...
You Care, Help Share During Mental Health Awareness Month Families for Depression Awareness
For Mental Health Awareness Month, Families for Depression Awareness has launched #YouCareHelpShare, a campaign to provide education and encouragement to family caregivers. Through the distribution of caregiver education materials and a social media awareness campaign, we aim to help caregivers all across the U.S. get the support, information, and resources they need to be effective partners in care.
The importance of caregivers
Caregivers of people with depression or bipolar disorder play a crucial role in their loved ones’ lives. Parents, spouses, siblings, and other close connections are pivotal in recognizing a problem, accessing care, and lending sup...
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