This Will Be A Real Mental Health Agenda –

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Outbreaks of gun violence have always led Republicans to talk about mental health. It would have been easier to take this conversation seriously if so many of them had not had long, well-published papers to improve mental health against government initiatives.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is a perfect example. Last week’s massacre was a state massacre at Wawald Robb Elementary School Sixth mass shooting During his tenure as governor Texas Tribune. After each of them, he said, the tragedy requires government action to improve mental health.

But amid the killings, Abbott did not fight to strengthen the crusade to strengthen public service. On the contrary: last April approved a $ 211 million reduction Mental health programs funded by an oversight agency.

And Texas, of all states, is in a bad position for such a reduction. When the nonprofit Mental Health Group America compiled the National Report on Access to Mental Health Care, it provided Texas Lowest rating.

Now, it’s not hard to understand what’s going on here.

This clearly explained what Media problems Discovered as he was compiling mental health reports on Fox News: Memories grew stronger with each shot at the masses and just as confidently destroyed after the shock of the murders were gone.

“Let me tell you nonsense about mental illness,” the senator failed. Chris Murphy (D -Ct.) Told his Republican counterparts this past week – and, in fact, it’s hard to blame him.

After all, the United States has a huge mental health problem, so many people need diagnosis and treatment that they don’t get. And there are actually some great solutions.

Too many opportunities can make it difficult to focus the attention of politicians or the public. But it is possible to simplify potential solutions by dividing them into two general categories:

The most well-known problem with accessing mental health care is its cost. This is a problem for people with and without insurance, as many plans have high costs – That will inevitably affect mental health as well as other types of care.

In 2018, 38% of Americans said they did not receive mental health care because of the cost, according to survey data. Drug Abuse Administration and Mental Health Services. This is actually an improvement since 2008, when the number was 45%, probably because the Affordable Care Act reduced the number of people without coverage. But, of course, it’s still a surprisingly high percentage.

And it has some serious real side effects. Whether it costs big money to go to the doctor or get a test or fill a prescription, more people will skip this treatment or test and sometimes find themselves in a worse situation because of it. A 2020 paper, for example, shows that people with schizophrenia are more likely to take prescription drugs when it is more expensive for them.

The solution is to make sure everyone has insurance and then make sure everyone has insurance to cover the treatments and medications they need, in other words, to get closer to truly universal coverage schemes more. developed countries.

Of course, in states like Texas, the most obvious and direct way to do this is Roll Medicaid Through the Affordable Care Act – a step that can insure More than 1 million residents With insurance, including mental health care.

But Texas Republicans have done it many times.The Abbot refused to take that step and stayed with them.

However, finding qualified and relevant mental health providers has long been a documented problem. Even worse So far Pandemic.

This is why many people cannot find a therapist in insurance networks. This is why patients with serious mental health require waiting times, even days, for hospitalized psychiatric beds in the emergency room. This is why many people with serious mental illness end up in prisons, which have become an effective warehouse for people who need care but are not getting it.

Funding is a big thing here. The Money It is not enough to attract more mental health professionals in this field from private and public insurers. Low salaries also make it difficult to retain professionals Horrible, self-fulfilling cycle: The bigger their load, the more you increase them Stress and burnThat is why many of them go to work in other directions.

One way to solve this problem Deficit This is to increase the salary of suppliers, which the government can do directly when it pays them through Medicare, Medicaid, or other public programs. Other options include new grants on the training front (offering tutoring assistance) and on the back (offering generous loan forgiveness, especially for those working in vulnerable areas).

Reducing licensing restrictions to allow more qualified professionals to perform more tasks could also change.

But improving access to mental health providers isn’t just about attracting more professionals in the field. It also means Install more professional sa Right places – In particular, places where people in need of mental health care can easily get it.

An example would work to ensure that more primary care providers have a mental health professional who is physically present in their practice – so, for example, a pediatrician might ask for an office consultation instead of going to someone. there are professionals who may be late. On the edge of the city and I have been waiting for meetings for a long time.

“We know that most people don’t follow referrals for one reason or another, and as a result, people aren’t getting the care they need.” Ben MillerThe President’s Prosperity Trust told HuffPost. “If you take care of them and incorporate them perfectly, these needs are more likely to be met right away, which is often more effective for the patient and his or her family.”

The veteran psychologist and scientist is among the advocates who see such changes as part of a broader change in mental health care, focused on prevention and detection as well as treatment, and reaching out to people. beyond the clinical setting. but also in schools, libraries and through other community organizations.

None of these steps can be done quickly. It will take ongoing political efforts to raise funds – or to raise funds and change regulations – because, inevitably, there are interest groups, businesses and institutions that benefit from the status quo and want to keep it.

It’s an effort Republicans looking to improve their mental health can make, but it requires attention to this issue even if memories of the last snap are gone.

This has not happened in the past. But maybe this time.