Mental Health

Mental Health

Grantmaking in the area of mental health focuses on:

• Strengthening the ability and capacity of providers to deliver quality services;
• Strengthening communication and coordination of services among providers;
• Promoting interdisciplinary training and best-practices;
• Supporting prevention and early intervention efforts.

Statistics

According to the National Institute of Medicine:

• 26.2 % of Americans 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
• 6% percent of the population suffers from severe mental illness.
• Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44.
• Major depressive disorder is the leading of disability in the U.S. for ages 15 -44.
• Treatment of depression is one of the top 5 diseases contributing to the high cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Challenges for Mental Healthcare in Rural Communities *

[The services area of the Foundation for Community Health]…faces several challenges in delivering mental health care which are directly related to the rural nature of the region. The report on “Rural Mental Health Outreach: Promising Practices in Rural Areas” published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) points out that, “In rural areas, chronic disparity exists between the need for mental health services and their availability. Even where services are available, stigma and cultural issues often impede residents from rural areas from receiving the mental health care they need.” In addition, according to a presentation by Dennis F. Mohatt of WICHE Mental Health Program, while prevalence rates of mental health disorders are pretty much the same, it has been found that people in rural areas are not well informed about mental health, that providers are isolated from each other, that service access is confusing, complex and fragmented, and that providers often plan “what pays” rather than “what works” for treatment. As a result, rural people enter care later, sicker, and at a higher cost level. Some additional facts about mental health in rural America include:

• More than 60% of rural Americans live in mental health professional shortage areas
• More than 90% of all psychologists and psychiatrists, and 80% of MSWs, work exclusively in metropolitan areas
• More than 65% of rural Americans get their mental health care from their primary care provider
• The mental health crisis responder for most rural Americans is a law enforcement officer

* Excerpted from United Way of Northwest Connecticut’s Community Impact Program Behavioral Health Initiative, Final Report funded by Foundation for Community Health

In recognition of the particular difficulties in providing and accessing mental health services and substance abuse treatment services in its rural area, the Foundation has worked very closely with local providers to identify specific ideas and opportunities appropriate to their unique set of circumstances. The Foundation has provided multi-year funding for capacity building which ranged from fund development, to technology enhancement to Board and staff training. Other organizations were funded to pilot a service which would eventually be eligible for ongoing reimbursement through Medicaid. Still another established a Collaborative to develop opportunities to share information and/or bring outside experts to the area on such topics as depression and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. While another looked for support in identifying a larger organization to merge with in order to improve efficiencies.

The Foundation has also regularly supported a wide variety of prevention education programs targeting youth and families. For youth these programs have addressed such issues as drugs, sexual transmitted diseases and healthy relationships, with the larger goal of enhancing the abilities of these youth to make healthy choices. For parents these programs have focused on learning more about the stages of child development and on improving parenting skills.