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Monday, September 12, 2011

Holistic Care for Those with Mental Illness


Recently, the Illinois Medicaid program limited prescription drug coverage for several medications because of the high expense of the drugs in a move to control spending in mental health care. This policy change allows most of those already receiving Medicaid prescription assistance to be grandfathered in, and consumers prescribed the drugs not on the state's preferred list may still receive those medications with authorization.

Many mental health advocates have cried foul, but their concern for people with mental illness misses a key point. Until now, the State allowed physicians to prescribe any psychotropic medication regardless of the cost. Taxpayers should appreciate that allowing a physician to prescribe every expensive psychotropic medication does not readily translate into helping those with a mental illness. The perfect drug does not always hit the bulls eye. Research has shown that for those with severe and persistent mental illness, recovery comes not solely by finding a well-tolerated, effective drug. Persons with mental illness must be part of a system of care designed to meet their needs for housing, employment and reintegration into the community.
Proponents of the cost-cutting correctly say it will help the state manage fiscal responsibility in health care, forcing providers to find lower-cost and equally effective options for those with mental illness. Still, a larger issue remains for persons coping with mental illness. The state, while cutting spending for certain drugs, must prioritize the "wrap-around" services that community behavioral healthcare can provide. These services include supports for housing, therapeutic and outreach services, physical healthcare, and employment services. Good treatment means inspiring people to make important and rewarding contributions to society.

With this in mind, the state should continue to prioritize a holistic and cost-effective approach to addressing mental illness that doesn't simply throw money towards pharmaceutical companies promising the next big thing in mental health treatment. However, without proper therapeutic care such as community support and physical healthcare, along with housing assistance to prevent homelessness and employment services to help those with mental illness find and keep a meaningful job, even the most expensive, innovative and trustworthy drugs will have less overall effect to prevent the negative outcomes of long-term mental illness.

-- Steve Weinstein, M.D., Chicago
Chicago Tribune September 12, 2011 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Nation's Jails Struggle With Mentally Ill Prisoners

Nation's Jails Struggle With Mentally Ill Prisoners

(FROM NPR) Three hundred and fifty thousand: That's a conservative estimate for the number of offenders with mental illness confined in America's prisons and jails.

More Americans receive mental health treatment in prisons and jails than in hospitals or treatment centers. In fact, the three largest inpatient psychiatric facilities in the country are jails: Los Angeles County Jail, Rikers Island Jail in New York City and Cook County Jail in Illinois.

"We have a criminal justice system which has a very clear purpose: You get arrested. We want justice. We try you, and justice hopefully prevails. It was never built to handle people that were very, very ill, at least with mental illness," Judge Steve Leifman tells Laura Sullivan, guest host of weekends on All Things Considered.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

For more than 10 years, Thresholds has worked with those exiting incarceration from prison and jail to prevent recidivism and serve those with mental illness to ensure they are able to integrate back into the community through housing supports, psychiatric and therapeutic care, physical healthcare and employment opportunities through our Supported Employment Program. Thresholds was awarded the Gold Achievement Award from the American Psychiatric Association for its work with the Jail and Prison Project (now known as the Justice Project). For more information, view this article.