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Why should I support mental illness?
Mental illness has, for years, been not only stigmatized, but silent. Our mentally ill citizens are among the most vulnerable of any segment. Because of the stigma, they have few advocates.
1. It makes financial sense: The costs of untreated, or under-treated, mental illness are compelling:
• Mental illness is the single largest cause of missed work from disability.
• Co-occurring mental illness nearly triples the treatment cost of “physical” illnesses such as cardiac illness, diabetes and cancer.
• Most mental illness is treated in jails, at a huge economic and social cost.
• The costs of untreated or under-treated mental illness are compelling. Early recognition and treatment saves lives and saves money.
2. We need to reverse one of the last bastions where discrimination and stigma are barriers to getting help to those who need it:
• The reimbursements for mental illness are unfair, and are not equal to reimbursements for “physical” illnesses.
• Would a person with cancer tolerate being told, “Your copay for this illness is higher than for a ‘medical’ condition.” ?
• Would persons with diabetes accept being relegated to a limited number of annual consults for diabetes, with no such limitations being placed on other diagnoses?
• Would a cardiac patient stand for hospital discharge while still critically ill?
• Individuals with mental illness are not treated fairly. They do not stand up for themselves, in part because of the stigma, and in part because of reduced capacity to do so.
• Mental illness has, for years, been not only stigmatized, but silent. Our mentally ill citizens are among the most vulnerable of any segment. Because of the stigma, they have few advocates.
• Mental illness does not share the attraction of other more “appealing” (but equally deserving) causes. We don’t have the excitement of the arts and we don’t show the urgency of starving children. Even when we “connect” with someone who has mental illness in their family, stigma often prevents that would-be donor from providing support.
Advocates like the Mental Health Association of Central Florida are in huge need for this silent vulnerable group.
Why You: Why Now?
Mental illness is a big business cost.
Four reasons why your support makes good business sense:
1. Increase employee productivity - Mental illness accounts for more time missed from work than any other cause. Put your donation dollars in a cause that will return for your business, as well as for your community.
2. Reduce health care costs - Individuals who suffer from other disorders like heart disease and diabetes are at high likelihood for mental disorders; co-occurring disorders as much as triple the cost of treating the initial medical condition.
3. Reduce the costs of the criminal justice system - There are more people in prison with mental illness than there are in treatment facilities. Treatment while incarcerated is much more expensive than in a traditional setting – even more so than early diagnosis and intervention.
4. Be recognized as an early adopter of an emerging issue - Judge Steven Leifman, recently named Special Advisor to Florida’s chief justice on criminal justice and mental health, has predicted that mental illness will be “the” topic of criminal justice and health in upcoming years. Why not identify with this cause early?
But, why us? Why are we different?
1. The Mental Health Association of Central Florida is the area’s oldest advocacy organization. We have been in continuous operation in Central Florida since 1946.
2. WE EMPLOY CONSUMERS, and have done so for years. We live our mission.
3. We are flexible and resilient. We have survived recessions, philanthropy cycles and 9-1-1- causing dollars to flee the community. We have a solid net worth and strong financials.
4. We are affiliated with the National Mental Health Association, which is 102 years old:
• This means we have support and consistency in message across the nation.
• No matter what program, diversion or intervention we propose to do, it is likely that one of the 300+ MHA affiliates across the nation has done it already! This is a huge resource for us.
5. We are the only mental health advocacy group in the area with:
• No provider affiliation
• An ongoing office, infrastructure, staff and volunteers
• Solid state contracts to deliver services
• A proven track record of delivering evidence-based improvements to a consumer group.[1]
Mental illness has, for years, been not only stigmatized, but silent. Our mentally ill citizens are among the most vulnerable of any segment. Because of the stigma, they have few advocates.
1. It makes financial sense: The costs of untreated, or under-treated, mental illness are compelling:
• Mental illness is the single largest cause of missed work from disability.
• Co-occurring mental illness nearly triples the treatment cost of “physical” illnesses such as cardiac illness, diabetes and cancer.
• Most mental illness is treated in jails, at a huge economic and social cost.
• The costs of untreated or under-treated mental illness are compelling. Early recognition and treatment saves lives and saves money.
2. We need to reverse one of the last bastions where discrimination and stigma are barriers to getting help to those who need it:
• The reimbursements for mental illness are unfair, and are not equal to reimbursements for “physical” illnesses.
• Would a person with cancer tolerate being told, “Your copay for this illness is higher than for a ‘medical’ condition.” ?
• Would persons with diabetes accept being relegated to a limited number of annual consults for diabetes, with no such limitations being placed on other diagnoses?
• Would a cardiac patient stand for hospital discharge while still critically ill?
• Individuals with mental illness are not treated fairly. They do not stand up for themselves, in part because of the stigma, and in part because of reduced capacity to do so.
• Mental illness has, for years, been not only stigmatized, but silent. Our mentally ill citizens are among the most vulnerable of any segment. Because of the stigma, they have few advocates.
• Mental illness does not share the attraction of other more “appealing” (but equally deserving) causes. We don’t have the excitement of the arts and we don’t show the urgency of starving children. Even when we “connect” with someone who has mental illness in their family, stigma often prevents that would-be donor from providing support.
Advocates like the Mental Health Association of Central Florida are in huge need for this silent vulnerable group.
Why You: Why Now?
Mental illness is a big business cost.
Four reasons why your support makes good business sense:
1. Increase employee productivity - Mental illness accounts for more time missed from work than any other cause. Put your donation dollars in a cause that will return for your business, as well as for your community.
2. Reduce health care costs - Individuals who suffer from other disorders like heart disease and diabetes are at high likelihood for mental disorders; co-occurring disorders as much as triple the cost of treating the initial medical condition.
3. Reduce the costs of the criminal justice system - There are more people in prison with mental illness than there are in treatment facilities. Treatment while incarcerated is much more expensive than in a traditional setting – even more so than early diagnosis and intervention.
4. Be recognized as an early adopter of an emerging issue - Judge Steven Leifman, recently named Special Advisor to Florida’s chief justice on criminal justice and mental health, has predicted that mental illness will be “the” topic of criminal justice and health in upcoming years. Why not identify with this cause early?
But, why us? Why are we different?
1. The Mental Health Association of Central Florida is the area’s oldest advocacy organization. We have been in continuous operation in Central Florida since 1946.
2. WE EMPLOY CONSUMERS, and have done so for years. We live our mission.
3. We are flexible and resilient. We have survived recessions, philanthropy cycles and 9-1-1- causing dollars to flee the community. We have a solid net worth and strong financials.
4. We are affiliated with the National Mental Health Association, which is 102 years old:
• This means we have support and consistency in message across the nation.
• No matter what program, diversion or intervention we propose to do, it is likely that one of the 300+ MHA affiliates across the nation has done it already! This is a huge resource for us.
5. We are the only mental health advocacy group in the area with:
• No provider affiliation
• An ongoing office, infrastructure, staff and volunteers
• Solid state contracts to deliver services
• A proven track record of delivering evidence-based improvements to a consumer group.[1]
[1] For example, the diversion programs provided to youthful offenders
in Orange County reduce recidivism from 22% to 5% in the test study.
We want to thank the support of our federal and local community partners:
We want to publicly thank our current Guardian Advocates, office volunteers and interns, who day by day make our work easier and their community better. Thank you all!!!
Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
MHACF has many opportunities for volunteers, in activities such as:
- Company events planning including preparation of print and promotional materials
- Creating and managing databases through data entry
- Maintaining and updating company website
- Support with marketing campaign for Membership Renewal
- Copying and filing
- Assistance with educational programs
- Other opportunities as they occur
We want to publicly thank our current Guardian Advocates, office volunteers and interns, who day by day make our work easier and their community better. Thank you all!!!
Copyright . Mental Health Association of Central Florida. All rights reserved.