The state mental health system in Georgia is struggling. Well, that might be an understatement. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "By late July, Georgia must tell the Justice Department how it plans to correct deficiencies or face a lawsuit that could force expensive reforms and strip away control of the mental health care system."
[Click here for the fully horrifying story.]
I have known about the troubles in the system for quite a while. Still, I witnessed more of the difficulties of the system today while working for my side job as psychological crisis assessor. Also, I have heard that the problem is not just in the state of Georgia but is a nationwide problem.
It saddens me that those in our society so vulnerable have such poor access to good quality treatment.
***An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people. Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion — about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 — who suffer from a serious mental illness. In addition, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44.
The National Institute of Mental Health
2 comments:
one in four adults with a mental disorder? Do you think it is worse now than before, or have we just educated ourselves more about these issues? That is a lot of people with disorders!
I'm not sure which it is. I do know that we are better educated about disorders, are living longer, but live in a more fragmented society with less supportive community. So possibly a little of both?
Note that is says people with serious mental illness is about 16%.
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