Mental health is more than the absence of mental health disorders, it’s really the ability to live a full, productive life. It’s the resiliency that comes with being able to weather a myriad of storms, both figurative and literal, and it’s the ability to form and maintain nurturing relationships with other people.
Since more and more awareness of mental health has grown over the years, recognition of the importance of advocacy groups, health insurance coverage for mental health services, and availability of information has risen to the mainstream of American consciousness.
Since the idea of health insurance coverage for mental health has been an ongoing issue there have been many differing opinions about what services should be covered.
The Mental Health Act or Mental Health Parity Act ensures that there will be comparable coverage for both mental and physical health services. This means that people can’t be forced to pay out-of-pocket for necessary therapy, psychological counseling and other mental health services, but must be covered under their health insurance plans as they would be for physical health problems.
It’s easy to see why health insurance needs to cover mental health services. Many people require an integrated mental health program to ensure that they maintain their mental health over a lifetime.
One of the longest-lived mental health organizations is MentalHealthAmerica, which has over one hundred years of experience helping people and families with mental health services and all issues pertaining to mental health.
Another important organization for assistance with issues of mental health is the National Institute of Mental Health. This organization provides information, advocacy, links, and articles for the purposes of informing and helping those seeking to educate themselves and others with regard to mental health.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is also known as NAMI. It is one of the leading advocacy and support groups for mental health.
Congress established the first week in October as Mental Illness Awareness Week, or “MIAW” in the year 1990. This occurred in recognition of NAMI's efforts to raise mental illness awareness.
Since then, many different mental health advocates in the United States have joined together during the first full week of October in to sponsor a variety of mental health advocacy activities.
MIAW has become a NAMI tradition. It presents an opportunity to all NAMI state organizations and affiliates across the country to work together in communities to achieve the NAMI mission through outreach, education and advocacy
Sources:
Mental Health America. Retrieved from the internet on October 29, 2011
http://www.nmha.org
National Conference of State Legislature
Retrieved from the internet on October 29, 2011
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14352
United States Department of Labor. Fact Sheet. The Mental Health Parity Act
Retrieved from the internet on October 29, 2011
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsmhparity.html
National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from the internet on October 29, 2011.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
National Alliance on Mental Illness. Mental Illness Awareness Week
Retrieved from the internet on October 29, 2011
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week
Aimee Boyle is a regular contributor to EmpowHER
Reviewed November 1, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith