Timothy Kelly, author of Healing the Broken Mind, has an op-ed in the Washington Post today.
“For too many Americans with mental illness, the mental health services they need remain fragmented, disconnected and often inadequate, frustrating the opportunity for recovery…. [and adding] to the burden of mental illnesses for individuals, their families, and our communities.” Those were the words of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (2003), which went on to recommend “a fundamental transformation of the nation’s approach to mental health care.”
That transformation has not yet occurred. As a former mental health commissioner and practicing psychologist, I have seen too many heart-breaking examples of people with mental illness who long to recover, but spend a lifetime seeking effective care. There are many good mental health providers across America, but not enough. Furthermore, the system (e.g., reimbursement structures and vested interests) fights against anything that challenges the status quo.
What to do? READ MORE AT WASHINGTONPOST.COM
