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Funding Mental Health Care in America
Conclusion
Not all people who have a mental illness are looking for a handout, most want to work. The ability to work and contribute back to society is an integral part of the recovery process for someone with a mental illness. Employment opportunities can help people work through their recovery. Yet, all too often people with a mental illness are unable to gain employment. At this time the federal government is looking into eliminating “the stricter standards that are currently applied to federal job applicants who have psychiatric disabilities” (The Clinton-Gore Administration: Improving Mental Health). This would ensure that individuals with any kind of mental illness be afforded the same job opportunities as persons with any other disability. They would also be “covered by the same hiring rules and authority used for individuals with other disabilities” (The Clinton-Gore Administration: Improving Mental Health).
Even though the mental Health Parity Act has yet to be passed in all states, it is still a major victory. It eliminates the private health insurance companies and the self-insured employers from placing a limit on mental health coverage (NMHA and the History of the Mental Health Movement). Also, several mental health organizations continue and strive to spread tolerance and awareness, to improve mental health services, to prevent mental illness, and to promote mental health in our communities (NMHA and the History of the Mental Health Movement). Now is the time for everyone to stand up in support of better mental health coverage from private insurers as well from the federal government. We must recognize that developing new treatments for mental disorders means finding treatments and funding that are effective for people of diverse socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; for people with multiple mental health disorders; and for people who can not afford private insurance or qualify for government funding. No American should ever have to go without treatment for an illness, whether it is mental or medical. It is time for us to step up our efforts, especially in the area of mental health. As stated in a 1999 report by the Surgeon General, “Mental health disorders are real health conditions that have an immense impact on individuals and families throughout the Nation and around the world” (Satcher).
Works Cited
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Marshall, Chris. “The Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001”. National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. 01 Feb. 2005
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/E- News/20013/April_20012/The_Mental_Health_Equitable_Treatment_Act_of_ 2001 S_543.htm
"What Have States Done to Ensure Health Insurance Parity?". National Mental Health Association. 14 Feb. 2005
http://www.nmha.org/state/parity/state_parity.cfm
Satcher, David. "Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General". White House Conference on Mental Health. 01 Dec. 1999. The National Institute of Mental Health. 15 Feb. 2005
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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http://www.nimh.nih.gov/whitehouse/accomplish.asp
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