The State of Mental Health Services in New Hampshire

I worked in the community mental health system for 12 years and was deeply saddened at the decrease in dollars available to care for the chronic mentally ill. What if any legislation is being proposed to assist them as the cost of living increases in disproportion with their daily means of medicaid, APTD, SSI? Are any gains being made to assist them?

Steven Ballou, Ph.D.

I look forward to hearing this discussion.
Myself and my daughters have both struggled with depression and needed the skills of a professional to navigate these dark waters.

There are good places like RiverBend, but there are those of us who need once a week to get guidance.
It is really expensive. and as an unemployed/uninsured person that makes it doubly difficult, Ironically as an unemployed (fired) person the need for help is so much more essential. But how to afford it?
Could it be part of being laid off that 6-10 sessions be an expected as severence? the violent rages that the news stations report are so often about people who have been fired.

Also, there are two obstacles that bother me. 1. Finding a good fit. The first session is the most expensive, so that investment nearly locks one into going to that provider, but after a session or two it could be clear that the pairing is not good. So a person walks away with a financial loss and a muted motivation to continue to seek help.
2. The sense that the general population sneers at folks who do seek therapy - like you are crazy. Well, crazy or hurting, it would be great if the public could be educated to understanding that the negative emotions can be dissolved by good therapy. Actually I would recommend that EVERYONE have semi-annual session at least! My friend is embarrased that her 67 year old brother has sought therapy: "our family is not crazy." And an 18 year old friend won't go to a couselor to help her through her first year of college while dealing with the shooting death of her brother. "Oh no, I don't speak to others about my problems." (well yes if it is a lost assignment or a stomach ache. But homicide and independence!!!)

Thank you for a very good program.
Francie

Yep, it's all about da money! Individuals who are uninsured, not making a high wage, and not severely mentally ill (don't meet that "certain set of criteria" for public services), are pretty much shut out of the community mental health system. And the cost of not dealing effectively with this "service gap", this horrible state of affairs? Hurt, pain, tragedy, incarceration, despair, rage, fear, homicide, suicide, shortened lives, increased physical illness, danger, decreased productivity, terrible sadness, waste.

And why, at base, do we as a nation, as a society, not ever actually deal with the obscene insurance/no insurance mess? Greed? (look at the salaries of the CEO's of these insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and hospital franchises). Ignorance? (look at the entrenched stigma, outdated education, and bad policies...like no Medicaid for substance use disorders and inadequate integrated services for co-ocurring conditions...can you imagine if your doctor told you he/she could treat your diabetes or your asthma, but not both?) Values? (wonder how much money is flowing around sports teams, Wall Street brokers, celebrity worship...other "essentials" in this supposedly humane society?)

Personal opinion: Federal cuts to the public MH budget equal government oppression by social manipulation. Why isn't there a massive outcry to demand a better when better is absolutely possible? The paucity of mental health services available to the un/underinsured is one of this country's paramount social disgraces.