Michelle Obama promotes awareness of mental health care

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

Mar 4, 1:07 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michelle Obama says mental health care is not just a policy and budget issue for America, but also a cultural issue.

The first lady says there should be no stigma around mental health, and real change requires a shift in "our attitudes."

Mrs. Obama spoke Wednesday at a mental health summit and the national launch of the campaign to "Change Direction."

The initiative encourages Americans to care for their mental health and learn the signs of emotional distress.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MICHELLE_OBAMA_MENTAL_HEALTH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[hopemountain]

1. the stigma of seeking mental health services for

individuals and families is pervasive in our society. and to have any type of diagnosis is considered a weakness. it is abominable and victimizes families and individuals. and further, i will venture to state this culture of stigmatization is particularly perpetuated by the military and our educational systems and reflected by many in congress and other elected officials.

[meow2u3]

2. K&R for ending prejudice against mental health issues

It's long overdue to put an end to the needless stigmazation of people suffering from mental health maladies, dismissing them as if they were mere character defects and bad choices.

Who the hell would choose to live with a condition that causes him or her to be misunderstood, shamed, blamed, and ostracized by society?

[inanna]

3. Well said.

Nobody chooses to be depressed or anxious - or a host of other issues.

[CapnSteve]

4. As a person in recovery from mental illness...

I applaud the First Lady's support. Life has gotten so much better for me. Mental illness took so much from me, and I am sure it would have taken my life if I ignored it...

[inanna]

5. I am glad you DIDN'T ignore it...

It requires a great deal of strength just to take that first step and seek help.

Welcome to DU, CapnSteve

[CapnSteve]

6. There is a stigma, but gutting it out alone...

...was no longer an option for me. Most of my friends don't know the reason, they just see the results: "you look like you have had a weight lifted off of you!". Someday, I hope I can tell them...

[dembotoz]

7. republicans now come out against mental health

sorry some are just too easy

[aikanae]

8. Is she joking?

Not even Medicare covers mental health at par with coverage of physical illness. Altering that would go a long way to reducing any "stigma".

What happens is without treatment (known and proven, not just a pill) mental health issues deteriorate, reducing income and resulting in Medicaid becoming the largest supplier of mental health treatment (next to prisons). Most Medicaid mental health programs have been severely gutted and don't offer minimum treatments using proven medical standards. At best Medicaid mental health treatment is a warehouse program largely because they are a voiceless class, i.e. low hanging fruit. Medicaid, unlike insurance such as Medicare, loose their rights to appeals and court due to being federal regulation. Try finding a "Medicaid" attorney. They don't exist.

However, CMS is "not an enforcement agency" even though CMS writes the checks. No one is and a state can write any standard in a state plan without medical soundness required and CMS approves since there's little else they can do. CMS approves even knowing a state is violating federal regulations. States insure this further with contradictory, vague state laws so that not even the occasional, delusional "robin hood" attorney will take a case against Medicaid. Every state makes money off Medicaid and most start with gutting mental health programs, turning them into federal money laundering programs for state general funds.

Obama's made this same appeal since 2008 and promised mental health parity with physical illness but it's gotten worse instead. Someone, please, point out the difference between Mrs. Obama's comment and Bush Jr's "kiss of support" that usually meant a program was cut 24-48 hours after Bush Jr. made a speech offering his support.

I'm sorry folks, this is more of the same for the ignorant. I hope I'm wrong but just watch what's on the chopping block next.