State should change way health is measured
Since 1949, our nation has come together each May in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month. Organized by Mental Health America, this initiative has truly advanced this worthy cause, increasing awareness and educating us so we have the necessary tools and resources to serve as mental health advocates. This May, I’d like to take a moment to discuss, not only what we as individuals and communities can do to support these efforts, but also how the concept of health has changed over the past 70 years and what can be done to eliminate the challenges facing the men and women struggling with mental illnesses.
This year’s Robert Wood Johnson’s annual County Health Rankings recently declared Saratoga County the healthiest in New York State. The study examined several factors that profoundly affect community health, including high school graduation rates, smoking statistics, access to healthy foods, obesity figures and teen birth numbers to determine the overall health of each county (see the results of the study here).
While we should undoubtedly be proud of this distinction, it is high time that we, as a society, adjust the way health itself is quantified. Recent figures from the Healthy Capital District Initiative show Saratoga County’s suicide rate to be disproportionately higher than the rest of the Capital Region, as well as upstate New York and statewide averages, a concerning trend to say the least. While certain aspects of mental health are addressed in the Robert Wood Johnson study, including prevalence of mental health care providers and number of poor mental health days reported, when faced with the increased prevalence of mental illness diagnoses we have seen in recent years, it becomes clear that something must be done.
In addition, we must address the significant obstacles being faced by those suffering with mental illnesses on a daily basis. National Alliance of Mental Health statistics report an 84 percent unemployment rate among individuals receiving public mental health services in New York State. Limited special education funding, a lack of degree options and inadequate early intervention in our schools have also contributed to this issue, leading to extremely limited access to beneficial mental health resources for the people who need them the most.
So what can be done to reverse these trends? While we have made great progress eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illnesses in recent years, there is still much work to be done. As a member of the State Assembly Committee on Mental Health, I pledge to continue serving as an advocate for this cause, and I urge my legislative colleagues, along with the Capital Region’s local officials, business owners, educators and community members to double down in support of our local mental health initiatives. Most importantly, we must build upon the momentum created this month, and continue to raise mental health awareness throughout the year. Giving this important issue the attention it deserves promises to serve the best interests of our communities, our residents and our families, and offers us the best chance at making a meaningful difference in these efforts.