Monday, July 21, 2008

Falling Through the Cracks

For those of you prone to suggest that the government really does not understand problems that affect the country, you might want to look at the US Government Accountability Office or GAO for short. In effect, it is a government office that does research into problems that affect us as citizens and reports the findings to government leaders who use this information to craft legislation to help mitigate the findings of GAO reports.

Representative Pete Stark and Senator Gordon Smith asked the GAO to study what happens to citizens who are in the transitional age from childhood to early adulthood that suffer from mental illness. The request was to determine the scope of the problem and what states are doing to deal with the problems presented to those who suffer from diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. What the GAO found may shock those of you who are not familiar with the scope and nature of the problem. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08678.pdf

The GAO estimated that at least 2.4 million young adults aged 18 through 26, roughly 6.5 percent of the non-institutionalized population in that age range suffered from a serious mental illness in 2006. The actual numbers are even higher because the study did not include homeless, institutionalized and incarcerated persons in the study group. In addition 186,000 young adults received SSA (social security) benefits in 2006 because a mental disability prevented them from engaging in substantial, gainful activity. As a group, they tended to have significantly lower levels of educational achievement.

One of the especially difficult aspects of an early diagnosis and treatment is that the qualification for inclusion into government assistance programs is often lower for children than adults. The transitional process many times results in loss of benefits for children as they transition into adult care programs. This can result in discontinuation of treatment which can exacerbate the symptoms of mental diseases.

The report paints a chilling picture of a complex network of programs that does not coordinate nor serve the needs of the population effectively. To quote the report "families wanted information . . . generally reported feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of the system of agencies and organizations."

The result of this report is legislation proposed by Senator Gordon Smith, Senator Thomas Dodd and Representative Pete Stark, the Healthy Transition Act of 2008. They should be commended for their efforts to illuminate the plight of 2.4 million citizens and their families. Those who are ill enough to be disabled would nearly fill the Rose Bowl stadium and the famed "Big House" in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If you count those who suffer from serious illness you are talking about a number that approximates the attendance for an entire year for any major league baseball team. Every game!

The most shameful part about those who suffer is how they are portrayed. Unlike those who suffer from cancer and diabetes who are seen as sympathetic, those with mental illness are portrayed as flawed or responsible for their condition. Those who know them personally, see the pain and struggle first hand. When we stop and consider the size and complexity of the problem, perhaps we can think about how many suffer and what needs to be done to help treat those who suffer and allow for a path to recover like any other illness. It is not an easy task, but one worth doing to help alleviate the problem of mental diseases.

Senator Smith knows first hand the potential of lack of treatment. His son, Garrett, took his own life as a result of suffering from bipolar disorder. Senator Smith's efforts and his public acknowledgement of Garrett's story helps others who bear the pain of their own personal tragedy. His recognition that Garrett chose a permanent solution to a temporary problem properly reflects what can be accomplished with good access to services. He has taken that tragedy and used it to inspire his service to others. As the parent of one of the 186,000 young adults who make up the members of the study, I can share his pain over the effects of illness and appreciate his efforts to create help for those citizens in need of services. We need fewer cracks in the system and more comprehensive treatment. In the long run, reducing the number on disability and helping those in temporary crisis will benefit all citizens.

For those who are unaware of the problem, it is worthwhile reading the report. For those with family members and loved ones, it is a source for inspiration and hope for a better future. When the numbers and scope of the problem is known, somehow you feel anything but alone.

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