Recommendation: Behavioral Health

A. Area of interest

 

Substance abuse and mental health treatment

 

 

Effective services provided in a timely manner leading to successful treatment.

 

Recommendation

 

Increase the use of evidence-based treatment

Increase in abstinence from the use of substances and a decrease in symptoms of mental illness/emotional disorders.

 

 

Mental illnesses and substance abuse problems are medical conditions that impact not only the person afflicted but those surrounding the that individual. Both local and national organizations recognize the importance of early identification and treatment. Access to effective treatment and appropriate support is a vital aspect the recovery from substance abuse and mental illnesses.

 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that one in four Americans experience a mental health disorder in a given year and one in 17 Americans live with a severe mental health disorder. If this ratio holds true in Stark County, currently over 95,000 individuals with diagnosable emotional and/or behavioral disorders living in Stark County. If the national prevalence rates for substance abuse were applied to Stark County, an estimated 30,117 individuals in Stark County would be current illicit drug users and 35,836 individuals in Stark County would have a substance dependence or abuse problem.

 

Healthy People 2010 established the following goals for the areas of mental health and substance abuse:

The youth intervention is a key goal for both mental health and substance abuse treatment. Early intervention or treatment often greatly mitigates the impact of a mental health disorder or substance abuse problem allowing for a greater likelihood of a successful outcome. For the treatment of youth who are diagnosed with an emotional and/or behavioral disorder to achieve successful outcomes, the family/guardian, school personnel and the appropriate persons in the community that are a part of a youth’s life need to be actively involved. Each person active in the life of the youth requires education. The parent needs good parent education to learn how to parent, how to regain control of his/her child. School personnel need education so that they can recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health issues. Community members involved with youth need education to help them understand the nature and extent of emotional disturbance among youth.

 

Social service agency respondents to a survey conducted as a part of the 2001 Austin Bailey Health and Wellness Needs Assessment “ranked mental illness as a top three most pressing issue …(requiring) more than a moderate amount of additional resources.” Funders interviewed as a part of the same study recommended a “focus on the need for educated counselors and the need for specialized programs for emotionally disturbed children and children with behavioral issues.” They further stated, “…that there is a trend in a need for increased funding to deal with the increasingly complex issues related to children’s mental health.”

 

Barriers to treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders is a concern. Funding treatment for behavioral disorders, both mental health related and substance abuse related, can be an issue. Insurance parity remains an issue. Although the Surgeon General’s report states that mental health issues are real and that treatment works, insurance companies balk at covering mental health treatments. Often Medicaid is the best health insurance that a person with mental health issues can get. Medicaid covers mental health treatment that private insurance will not. Another barrier to receiving treatment is the lack of available mental health providers. This is especially true with children. The former Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services (ADAS) Board of Stark County, stated that “decreased stigma and increased community recognition of addiction as a disease” as one of its primary goals.