Press Releases: Gaps in Healthcare for Persons with Schizophrenia
Statement from Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
Contact: Communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 301.984.6200, ext. 228.
Washington, DC (January 30, 2008) — The National Council commends Mental Health America for its survey highlighting the gaps in comprehensive healthcare for people with schizophrenia. The premature death of persons with serious mental illness continues to be a crisis our field needs to address without further delay.
The community mental health system—the only point of care for a majority of people with serious mental illness has been chronically underfunded and struggles to meet basic health needs in the face of low reimbursement rates and workforce shortages. The results of a soon to be released National Council survey are consistent with Mental Health America’s findings and further describes the nation’s community mental health organizations struggles to get consumers treatments for hypertension, diabetes, obesity and other medical conditions.
The National Council leads multiple efforts among our 1,400 members—community mental health provider organizations across the nation—to provide comprehensive healthcare for people with serious mental illness through collaboration and referrals with local primary care centers. The Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act (S. 2182 and HR. 5176) that we championed and that is now in the Senate and the House, calls for funding to allow community mental health organizations to provide comprehensive primary care and specialty mental health services in the same setting.
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,400 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children and families in communities across the country. The National Council and its members bear testimony to the fact that medical, social, psychological and rehabilitation services offered in community settings help people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders recover and lead productive lives.
