September honors Recovery Month, emphasizing hope for recovery in behavioral health, especially from substance use disorders (SUD). A key motto of Recovery Month is that Recovery Happens, helping people know that even at rock bottom, things can improve. We all need that hope at various points in our lives. Often,
Mental health and data sharing. Seeing those phrases in a single sentence gives even the most seasoned professionals pause. This is legitimately sensitive data. And there are often specialized confidentiality and privacy laws due to the stigma and discrimination against those with mental health disorders. All the same, many agencies are starting to ask
An estimated 44% of people in jail and 37% of those in prison have a mental health condition. When I worked at the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, the Sheriff and Probation Departments were close partners with us. My Research & Evaluation team worked with their data teams to evaluate
What comes to mind when you think of a “homeless person”? Chances are, you’ll picture an adult, probably male, dirty, likely with some health conditions, including a mental illness. Few of us would immediately recall homeless individuals as family members, neighbors, co-workers and other loved ones. Fewer still are likely aware of how many youths (both minors and young adults) experience homelessness annually. Homeless youth is a population who can
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Recovery Month, which have the important goals of preventing suicide and promoting the idea that recovery from behavioral health conditions is achievable. Amid an unprecedented year of stressors, 2020’s awareness months around behavioral health conditions have become more relevant to far more people. In recognition of the challenges and changes in people’s work lives,
Getting people with mental health conditions the help they need is a top priority for many Californians, according to a recent California Health Care Foundation report. In 2004, Golden State voters approved the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Enacted into law in January 2005, MHSA has generated approximately $15 billion
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven up awareness of behavioral health need to new levels. As we honor Mental Health Month, schools, governments, and private companies are all talking about how to support people’s behavioral health. This is wonderful progress compared to our global history of speaking of mental health and
As we honor Mental Health Month, there are many calls to reduce suffering. Seems reasonable, right? It’s even in California’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), where public systems are called to “reduce subjective suffering.” And as we broadly focus more on outcomes in health, measuring suffering (and hopefully its reduction)
People across the country (and world) are not getting the care they need. There are many data efforts to address that, but I personally believe traditional analytics are short-sighted, too illness-focused, and remarkably negative. We need to take a more holistic approach to data, policy, and health care, including traditional
Stigma and discrimination in behavioral health, while improving, remain obstacles to people seeking care. And any obstacles need to be addressed, because those struggling with behavioral health and mental illness are simply not getting the help they need. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “The percentage of young
