And in my own state. Tennessee is looking at the possibility of gutting a program that has served the chronically and severely mentally ill for years. When I worked professionally, that program was what paid me. I worked with the severely mentally ill in a program that was funded by Tenn Care, which is Medicaid in Tennessee. My clients were among the population that couldn't manage their own lives. They were the mentally ill folks that were likely to end up homeless and/or in jail. Here is the article that I'm basing my discussion on: http://bit.ly/1Fqei1N At a time when we are facing huge mentally ill jail populations that cost huge amounts of money, we are looking at cutting a program that might just be a solution. Frankly, I'm stunned. I shouldn't be. People have always been short-sighted as they looked at options for dealing with mental illness. This is just another example.
Here is what a good case management program does: It encourages people to take medication. A case manager will make sure that a client follows their medication regimen. It helps the severely mentally ill to maintain housing. I found housing for many of the people on my case load. Which meant that there was one less mentally ill human being on the streets. I frequently made sure that people managed daily life adequately...I took people shopping and to the doctor. I was a middle-man when my clients were facing confusing life situations. I was a friend and advisor. And when a client was in trouble, I was who they reached out to. I was a key member of a support system that makes a difference when someone is living with severe mental illness.
Here is what the core of the issue appears to be in this decision to cut this program: How long should people be able to utilize case management services? In my opinion, for as long as it is needed. Living life with severe and chronic mental illness is amazingly complicated. And people living with severe mental illness are frequently not able to deal with the complexities. A case manager helps these individuals to live a productive life. And if case management helps them to maintain instead of spending time on the streets or in jail, it is worth it. If case management decreases our reliance on inpatient treatment, it is worth it. The goal should be to keep people in the community and keep them as productive as they are able to be within the confines of their mental illness. Cutting case management doesn't support that goal.
I encourage you to read this article. It sums up everything I am talking about very clearly. And it provides a current day example of someone who benefits from case management services. I would love to hear what you think. Let's talk!!
Here is what a good case management program does: It encourages people to take medication. A case manager will make sure that a client follows their medication regimen. It helps the severely mentally ill to maintain housing. I found housing for many of the people on my case load. Which meant that there was one less mentally ill human being on the streets. I frequently made sure that people managed daily life adequately...I took people shopping and to the doctor. I was a middle-man when my clients were facing confusing life situations. I was a friend and advisor. And when a client was in trouble, I was who they reached out to. I was a key member of a support system that makes a difference when someone is living with severe mental illness.
Here is what the core of the issue appears to be in this decision to cut this program: How long should people be able to utilize case management services? In my opinion, for as long as it is needed. Living life with severe and chronic mental illness is amazingly complicated. And people living with severe mental illness are frequently not able to deal with the complexities. A case manager helps these individuals to live a productive life. And if case management helps them to maintain instead of spending time on the streets or in jail, it is worth it. If case management decreases our reliance on inpatient treatment, it is worth it. The goal should be to keep people in the community and keep them as productive as they are able to be within the confines of their mental illness. Cutting case management doesn't support that goal.
I encourage you to read this article. It sums up everything I am talking about very clearly. And it provides a current day example of someone who benefits from case management services. I would love to hear what you think. Let's talk!!
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