Virginia Governor Proposes To Overhaul Mental Health System

Virginia Governor Proposes To Overhaul Mental Health System in Politics and Legislation

Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine is proposing to spend $40 million to revamp the state’s current mental health care system. The increased funding would focus on more efficient psychiatric intervention and crisis stabilization, rather than just hospitalization.

The Washington Post reported that Governor Kaine’s proposal would also provide more money for local mental health facilities.

Kaine’s action on mental health is a response of the tragic shootings that occurred at Virginia Tech University.

“It would be better if people with [mental] illnesses could receive the treatment they need before dangerousness becomes an issue,“ said Dr. Christopher Ryan, a psychiatrist at the University of Sydney.

Governor Kaine’s plan could be a step in the right direction to help prevent devastating events from occurring ever again.

But severe and dangerous mental illnesses aren’t the only kinds of mental health conditions we should worry about. There are millions of Americans live with other types of mental health disorders everyday. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are common all around the country.

Roughly 40 million Americans over 18 years old suffer from an anxiety disorder each year. About 14.8 million each year are affected by a major depressive disorder.

In total, it’s estimated that 57.7 million Americans each year suffer from a mental health disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Lawmakers in Washington have responded by passing the expansion of mental health parity back in September, which requires insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental and physical health conditions.

Don’t forget: good health includes mental health, too.

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