The Future of Mental Health Care in America: Hope for Special Populations

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The Future of Mental Health Care in America
Hope for Special Populations
A. Kathryn Power, M.Ed., Director Center for
Mental Health Services
March 17, 2005 Seattle, WA
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA)
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Center for Mental Health Services
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
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SAMHSAs Vision A Life In the Community for
Everyone
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(No Transcript)
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The time has long passed for yet another
piecemeal approach to mental health reform.
Instead, the Commission recommends a fundamental
transformation of the Nations approach to mental
health care.
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In a Transformed Mental Health System?

• Goal 1. Americans understand that mental health
  is essential to overall health
• Goal 2. Mental health care is consumer and family
  driven
• Goal 3. Disparities in mental health services are
  eliminated
• Goal 4. Early mental health screening,
  assessment, and referral to services are common
  practice
• Goal 5. Excellent mental health care is delivered
  and research is accelerated
• Goal 6. Technology is used to access mental
  health care and information

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Federal Partners Workgroup
Department of Health and Human Services
Other Federal Partners AoA NIH/NIDA
Department of Education ACF NIH/NIMH
Department of Housing and Urban
Development AHRQ OS/ASPE
Department of Justice CDC OS/OCR
Department of Labor CMS OS/OD
OS/OPHS Social Security
Administration HRSA SAMHSA
Department of Veterans IHS Affairs

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Goal 1
Americans Understand That Mental Health Is
Essential to Overall Health
Recommendations 1.1 Advance and implement a
national campaign to reduce the stigma of seeking
care and a national strategy for suicide
prevention 1.2 Address mental health with the
same urgency as physical health
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www.adscenter.org/
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Adults who reported mental health treatment or
counseling in the past year by race/ ethnicity
and education, 2001-2002
Source National Healthcare Disparities Report,
2003
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National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and
Practices
www.modelprograms.samhsa.gov

• 1998-2003reviewed and rated more than 1,100
  substance abuse prevention programs
• Information on more than 150 Model,
  Effective, and Promising programs available
• 2004expanded system to include
  substance abuse treatment and mental health
  promotion and treatment programs

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Defining Recovery

• Recovery is a process, sometimes lifelong,
  through which a person achieves independence,
  self-esteem, and a meaningful life in the
  community.
• For some individuals, recovery implies the
  reduction or complete remission of symptoms.
• For others, recovery is the ability to live a
  fulfilling and productive life despite a
  disorder.

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The Promise of Transformation

• We envision a future when everyone with a mental
  illness will recover, a future when mental
  illnesses can be prevented or cured, a future
  when mental illnesses are detected early, and a
  future when everyone with a mental illness at any
  stage of life has access to effective treatment
  and supportsessentials for living, working,
  learning, and participating fully in the
  community.

Vision statement from Achieving the Promise
Transforming Mental Health Care in America