The limitations of Mental Health Care in a community in need!  

 

By: Maria Trusa

Too often, we hear of the many unfortunate events that arise due to individuals who struggle with various types of mental illness and mental health. We often wonder, why is this the case? When you take a look at healthcare and its constant limitations to the community, it is easy, although not acceptable, to comprehend when such events are reported.

We find the focus and attention in healthcare to be on the physical body and chronic illnesses one incur but we fail to see the impact that mental health has on an individual’s overall health.  Many illnesses develop due to poor mental health. Depression, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to name a few, are illnesses that debilitate the physical body and mind.  The difficulty comes with identifying the need for care.  Such mental illnesses are not evident most of the time resulting in an action to bring attention to the possibility of a problem developing.  Our focus needs to be on overall healthcare understanding that each fragment of one’s being can be a contributory factor.

Similarly, the challenge comes in the ability to access high-quality, affordable care.  It is shameful how limited resources are for these individuals in need.  Many mental health programs are filled to capacity and extend waiting lists whereas other facilities just don’t have another outlet to offer.  At the same time, affordability has become a factor to consider as out of pocket expenses can be very costly, in addition to non-coverage of mental health services by insurance companies.  Access and affordability have impinged on providing care for many.

At Formé, we have notably seen an increased need of mental health care.  Our efforts are constant as we have partnered with a non-profit organization which provides a care manager to find ways of eliminating barriers of care.  However, their organization has also experienced the lack of accessibility.   As another measure of hope, Formé will be offering mental health services at an affordable price through the integration of a program in collaboration with Iona College.  Iona College’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy will provide students completing their clinical internships under the supervision of a highly qualified and experienced Psychotherapist to work with our patients.  The program will afford patients the opportunity to access affordable and high-quality mental care.

At Formé Medical Center, “We will continue our efforts in finding ways to eradicate said barriers and enforce measures to facilitate care.”