Ann MillerHealth & Wellness, Mental Awareness

why mental health is important Guaranteeing that all Californians have timely access to culturally appropriate, evidencebased treatment for mental illness and substance use disorders that is linked to their physical health care represents a huge challenge we are not daunted, to be sure.

I think that with smart investments in ‘highimpact’ strategies, CHCF can make meaningful contributions to encourage behavioral health integration.

Accordingly a systematic commitment to improvement could create real and lasting improvements in the health status of all Americans, as Margarita Alegría and colleagues observe in their excellentarticle about reducing racial and ethnic disparities in behavioral health care. Behavioral health conditions are eminently treatable. Usually, this is why behavioral health integration in which people receive coordinated or colocated care for all their health needs has such huge implications for Medi Cal, California’s largest health support program. CHCF is working to advance most of these efforts. Of the 5 of ‘MediCal’ enrollees who have the highest costs, 45percentage have a serious mental illness.

why mental health is important At the state level and locally, ‘Medi Cal’ is engaged in multiple initiatives to move ward behavioral health integration.

When they need it, we work to ensure that people have access to the care they need at a price they can afford.

CHCF is dedicated to advancing meaningful, measurable improvements in the way the health care delivery system provides care to the people of California, particularly those with low incomes and those whose needs are not well served by the status quo. Those legal problems indeed a significant impediment to collaboration, across providers and across sectors. CHCF published a paper on this pic last year it’s available on this site at and we’re currently supporting the state HHS Agency in their work to develop statewide guidance on this issue.

why mental health is important Recognition of the significant human and financial costs of behavioral health disorders, gether with recent implementation of federal and state laws enhancing coverage of mental health services, have lifted behavioral health to the p of the nation’s health policy agenda.

This finding was featured in amid the 29 impressive articles published in the new behavioral health themed issue of Health Affairs.

While as pointed out by a report in Health Affairs, with spending estimated at $ 201billion, in 2013, mental disorders pped the list of most costly conditions.

CHCF proudly supported this issue of the journal, and I invite you to read key articles. He had been hospitalized with preventable pneumocystis pneumonia and was breathing on a ventilator. He had not been taking the retroviral medications that will have reduced his risk, and he wasn’t taking psychiatric drugs to manage his bipolar condition, despite he was HIV positive.

He is fortunate to have survived the pneumonia, and thanks to San Francisco’s sophisticated system of community based, integrated care for HIV patients, day he is successfully taking care of himself and getting the care he needs.

I reckon that if our health care system were able to share information and manage everyone’s psychiatric and medical needs collaboratively, my patient just like this illustrate why CHCF is intent on advancing the integration of behavioral and medical care as a significant way to improve access for low income populations, ensure that care is cost effective, and provide data to help decisionmakers develop and implement forwardthinking policies.

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Ann Miller is a certified mental health coach and wellness writer with a strong background in psychology and emotional resilience. With over a decade of experience in helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, and burnout, Ann specializes in making complex mental health topics accessible and empowering.

She holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and has worked with both individual clients and organizations to promote emotional well-being and work-life balance. Through her writing, Ann aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health and offer practical, compassionate guidance for everyday challenges.

When she's not writing or consulting, Ann enjoys early morning yoga, quiet reading time, and exploring nature trails with her dog. Her personal philosophy: "Mental health is not a luxury — it’s a foundation for everything we do."

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