Candidates Must Address the Mental Health Crisis
While candidates have taken positions on health care cost and access, neither party has sufficiently addressed the crises of mental illness and substance abuse. Millions of Americans are diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse issues — millions more go untreated. Policymakers have failed to address the underlying stigma of mental illness and the cost of and access to treatment. So long as policymakers fail to pass substantive reforms increasing the accessibility and affordability of treatment, costs will continue to increase, and these problems will continue to compound. As an Iowan, I am privileged to have the ability to implore candidates to take stances on issues important to the future of our nation. This year, I implore every Iowan to ask presidential candidates about how they will address the growing problem of addiction and lack of address to treatment to mental health services across our state and nationwide.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the United States’ mental health system is ranked a “D”, and Iowa’s ranking is no better. Approximately 18.4 percent of adults in Iowa suffer from mental illness and 8.9 percent suffer from substance abuse issues — higher than the national average in both measures. Both mental illness and substance abuse do not exist in a vacuum: the families, friends and communities of those affected suffer personally and financially. Suicide, a tragic end result of mental illness and substance abuse, is the 9th leading cause of death in our state with one victim every 20 hours. Without action, our nation will continue to suffer greater human, personal and financial cost as a result of untreated mental illness in substance abuse issues.
The economic impact on the United States as a result of mental illness, substance abuse and suicide is difficult to quantify; however, policymakers should view these costs as simply another reason to take action. Serious Mental Illness (SMI) affects approximately 6 percent of the American adult population, and the term consists of illness that are seriously debilitating. The cost to the American economy of SMI alone is over $300 billion with a majority of the cost attributable to lost earnings. Federal spending on mental illness is, however, a much smaller figure, approximately 6.2 percent of total federal healthcare spending. Clearly, there must be a discussion of how the federal government can do more to prevent the enormous economic impact to our nation.
While our state has struggled with adult mental illness, Iowa is one of the 5 best states for adolescent mental health care. Overall, access to services is high comparatively for both adults and adolescents, although this must continue to improve over time. Lawmakers in both parties have stood against the closure of two of our state’s mental health institutes; therefore, policymakers on the state level should make it a priority to improve access for services and work to decrease costs for those who cannot afford care.
Policymakers on both the state and national levels must ensure the enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). This act requires that group health plans and insurance issuers ensure that financial requirements and treatment limitations applying to mental health or substance use disorder benefits are no more restrictive than surgical benefits. Further, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) requires coverage for mental health behavioral health and substance abuse needs as one of the ten essential healthcare services. Politicians who desire reform of our health care programs must ensure that the affordability and access to care will be protected if not expanded in any new proposal.
The effects of mental illness and substance abuse are bipartisan; therefore, Republicans and Democrats should come together to demand substantive changes. Yesterday, in coordination with the NOW Campaign, I was proud to demonstrate the ways that Surge has expanded the conversation to remove stigma and increase access to mental health services. Before the February caucus and beyond, Surge will continue to encourage positive practices and the erasing of stigma that prevents treatment for so many. With our status as the first in the nation caucus, Iowans must use our unique privilege to educate and ensure that every candidate understands the positive impact of structural reform.
