Advocacy Updates

Second Annual StandUP for 25 Years

The second annual awareness event about the health disparity for people with mental illness took place don October 8th. Some 150 people joined in for “StandUP for 25 Years” at the State Capitol.  The gathering, hosted by the Mental Health Association of Connecticut, aims at keeping  people’s eye
on the health and healthcare needs of people with long term mental health disorders.

Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan welcomed participants who heard messages from Commissioner Pat Rehmer (DMHAS), Charles Dike MD (CT Psychiatric Society), Janine Sullivan-Wiley (CEO Southwestern Regional Mental Health Board), Marilyn Ricci (CT NAMI) and Kevin Lembo (CT Healthcare Advocate).

In 2006, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors confirmed that this population has significant health risks contributing to an early death by about 25 years.  The increase in mortality and morbidity are due largely to preventable conditions and behaviors like poor nutrition, smoking, IV drug use and alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and unsafe sexual behavior.
StandUP for 25 years tries to draw the attention of system stakeholders – consumers, families, providers, decisionmakers, funders – to this issue so that ongoing efforts will be mounted to help lessen this health disparity.
 

 

 US Healthcare reform 

According to the Committee on Enegy and Commerce of the US Congress, healthcare reform will impact Connecticut in substantial ways:

• 2.3 Million residents will have improved healthcare coverage
• 16.9 thousand small businesses will get tax credits
• 550 thousand seniors will have improved Medicare drug benefits
• 3800 households will be protected from backrupcy due to healthcare costs
• 48 thousand young adults can stay on their parents health insurance plans
• 165 million dollars will go to funding community health centers
• costs of free care borne by hospitals and health centers will be reduced by almost $2 billion.  

Mental health advocates accross the country support these efforts to improve the lives of people living with mental illness.