Creating possibility or closing down options....making mental health care available...

Here it is…the evidence that treating mental illness is cost-effective.  http://bit.ly/14tkX93   Truly, where do you want to spend?  On treatment?  Or on jail?  People looking to cut the size of government are somewhat short-sighted.  They don’t look at costs as part of a larger picture.  As this study plainly indicates, we either make mental health treatment available to people or it ends up costing more in the long run.  In jailing people.  In crime costs. In more homeless mentally ill people. And in human suffering.  So, where would YOU rather spend our money?  In solving the problem or in building more jails?

It seems to me that the cost of healthcare for the mentally ill is a ‘cost’ that will pay off for us in the long-run.  Possibly in the creation of a more productive human being who will contribute to society?  What gets in the way of the logic contained in these studies?  The stigma.  And the attitude that if someone is getting health care assistance, they are ‘takers’ who never give back.  I would like to suggest that treatment, and the earlier the better, is the way to build an individual back up.  And therefore, it creates its own cost-savings. Without available treatment, you are basically telling people that they are not important enough to society to provide readily accessible help.

When we talk about tools in this blog, like medication and therapy, we are talking about solutions.  We are giving people a way to take care of themselves that will create options instead of closing doors.  We are helping people to tame the biochemical monster that can consume a life and destroy families.  This study confirms that.  What do you think?  I really do want to recommend you read this article.  And understand the logic of what the study saw.  How do you view this issue?  I would love to hear your opinion!