Public Health Policy Analysis (PHPA) Paper

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APHA > Topics & Issues > Mental Health

Mental Health Mental health is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community." Several barriers to mental health care make it dif�cult for everyone to achieve their best mental health. APHA supports efforts to improve access to care and put mental health on par with physical health.

The Affordable Care Act expanded mental health coverage, made it illegal to deny insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, including mental illness, and expanded parity. Parity means health plans must put mental health and substance abuse treatment on equal terms with other medical and surgical care. APHA supports parity as a step toward equity in health and treatment. We also speak out about the need for improved access to mental health care to help address such problems as gun violence and suicide.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To achieve true parity in mental health coverage and access to care, policymakers at the state and federal levels should:

• Enact comprehensive parity laws in all states.

• Support stricter enforcement, transparency requirements and implementation.

• Push states to have a de�nition of "medical necessity" that puts a priority on clinical practice and uses a behavioral health treatment model.

• Fund, train and provide mental health parity navigators to detect parity violations and work with insurance companies to bring their plans into compliance.

• Fund and invest in research relating to evidence-based practices surrounding parity implementation and parity policy standards for insurance companies.

• Provide incentives for those entering and working in the mental health �eld.

Community members and consumers should:

• Be educated about mental health parity and your state laws surrounding parity requirements.

Public health agencies should:

• Put programs and policies in place that surround education of parity, insurance plans and mental health.

• Encourage public health professionals to be well-versed in mental health and substance abuse care.

RESOURCES

Examples of some public health efforts to improve access to mental health care:

• Boulder County Public Health Department's Alcohol Emergency Commitment: Gateway to Immediate Treatment Access for High Service Utilizers

• Hennepin County, Minnesota, Human Services and Public Health Department's Drop-in Medication Clinic

• Marshall County, Illinois Health Department's Public Health Response to Access to Rural Mental Health Services

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Check out our recorded webinar: "Making the Connection: Climate Changes Mental Health"

Learn more about APHA's Mental Health Section.

Visit APHA's suicide topics page. 

Find more at mentalhealth.gov and from the National Institute of Mental Health. Also, the non-pro�t organization Affordable Colleges Online offers three guides: Promoting Student Wellness, Substance Abuse in College and Suicide Prevention in College.

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Mental Health Recovery in Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Brief Intervention and Follow-Up for Suicidal Patients With Repeat Emergency Department Visits Enhances Treatment Engagement

Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the Politics of American Firearms

Mental Health Treatment Patterns Among Adults With Recent Suicide Attempts in the United States

Aggressive Policing and the Mental Health of Young Urban Men

Community Violence Perpetration and Victimization Among Adults With Mental Illnesses

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