If a person told you they had access to specialty cardiology treatment but not to primary care, you may locate it ironic. If an individual told you they are becoming treated for their cancer but not for their co-occurring diabetes, it would seem ridiculous. However this kind of wellness care is typical to that given to people suffering from severe mental illness.
The National Association of State Mental Well being Program Directors 2007 study on morbidity and mortality in men and women with significant mental illness revealed that, on average, individuals with severe mental illness die 25 years earlier than the general population. This was a bombshell. But the tragic report findings corroborated what those in the trenches — community mental and behavioral healthcare providers — suspected community mental wellness organizations are helping folks recover from mental illness when their lives are endangered due to neglect of other severe wellness problems.
The barriers to complete care appear daunting. A recent survey of community behavioral organizations revealed that despite the fact that over 90% take into account general healthcare for consumers a priority, only 1 in two organizations has any general healthcare capacity, and less than 1 in 3 has the capacity to offer the services onsite. The most typical barriers to obtaining general medical services are troubles in reimbursement, workforce limitations, physical plant constraints, and lack of community referral options.