I can relate to this article. I really can. Here is the link: http://huff.to/1lRu2En. This is another in the excellent series of articles published by The Huffington Post regarding mental health issues. The reason I can relate is that I experienced the exact same thing in Florida. During the time I watched my business fall apart in Orlando, I was the person looking for treatment options. And just like the depressed young woman in this article, I found nothing. As this young woman experienced, I had the family history. I had the life situation triggering the depression. I had the suicidal ideation. I was living in the hopelessness.
This article talks about the Canadian system. I see no difference here in the United States. Because I had a history as a case manager, I had the skills to look for options. I'd done so professionally. So, even though I knew I was in trouble, I pushed myself to utilize my skills. Here is what I found. I had been operating a fledgling business, so like many small business owners, I had no insurance. I also had pre-existing conditions, so any insurance plans I could find were exorbitantly expensive and didn't necessarily cover what I needed. I wasn't old enough for Medicare. And I wasn't eligible for Medicaid. The only medical help I could get was in community clinics, which were based on ability to pay. Since I had no income, getting into a clinic without the minimum fee they charged seemed insurmountable. And seeing a medical doctor was no guarantee that I could afford my medication.
Although I have many stories to share about my adventures in attempting to get help, the most amazing one involves the lack of available mental health services due to my lack of income. I called the local emergency hotline for ideas about low-cost emergency services. I was given a short list. One option was connected to a university traing program for students. In the phone intake, I was asked about suicidal ideation. When I said that I had been suicidal, I was told that I wasn't eligible because their practitioners were just students. In addition, they informed me that there was a waiting list. Even if I wasn't suicidal, there would be a wait. OK. No help there...
I know that I'm not the only person to confront the lack of services for those dealing with mental illness. Can you relate? The only way to make change is to talk about it. I was lucky enough to finally get help when the situation reached a crisis. Getting help saved my life. It shouldn't have been so difficult for me to do so. There are estimates that one in four in this country experience mental illness at some point in their lives. To spend money to ensure that people survive the crisis seems logical. What do you think? Let's talk!
This article talks about the Canadian system. I see no difference here in the United States. Because I had a history as a case manager, I had the skills to look for options. I'd done so professionally. So, even though I knew I was in trouble, I pushed myself to utilize my skills. Here is what I found. I had been operating a fledgling business, so like many small business owners, I had no insurance. I also had pre-existing conditions, so any insurance plans I could find were exorbitantly expensive and didn't necessarily cover what I needed. I wasn't old enough for Medicare. And I wasn't eligible for Medicaid. The only medical help I could get was in community clinics, which were based on ability to pay. Since I had no income, getting into a clinic without the minimum fee they charged seemed insurmountable. And seeing a medical doctor was no guarantee that I could afford my medication.
Although I have many stories to share about my adventures in attempting to get help, the most amazing one involves the lack of available mental health services due to my lack of income. I called the local emergency hotline for ideas about low-cost emergency services. I was given a short list. One option was connected to a university traing program for students. In the phone intake, I was asked about suicidal ideation. When I said that I had been suicidal, I was told that I wasn't eligible because their practitioners were just students. In addition, they informed me that there was a waiting list. Even if I wasn't suicidal, there would be a wait. OK. No help there...
I know that I'm not the only person to confront the lack of services for those dealing with mental illness. Can you relate? The only way to make change is to talk about it. I was lucky enough to finally get help when the situation reached a crisis. Getting help saved my life. It shouldn't have been so difficult for me to do so. There are estimates that one in four in this country experience mental illness at some point in their lives. To spend money to ensure that people survive the crisis seems logical. What do you think? Let's talk!
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