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There is an average delay of eight to 10 years between the onset of mental illness and when a person gets treated, the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) reports. Add to that an estimated one in four American adults experiences a diagnosable disorder within a given year, and the need for mental health services is crystal clear. However, with more than 46 million uninsured people and revenue shortfalls impacting community mental health and Medicaid eligibility, scores of children, youth and adults are living with mental illness but have little or no resources for care. A closer look Mental health is a public health issue. According to recent reports, approximately 40 percent of people with mental health problems never receive treatment. Major depressive disorders represent the leading cause of disability for those aged 15 to 44 in the U.S. and Canada, according to the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. A recent study in the American Journal of Public Health reports suicide as the leading cause of death in America, trumping car crash fatalities. The study reports that while public health efforts have curbed the number of car fatalities by 25 percent over the last decade, suicide deaths rose by 15 percent between 2000 and 2009. "Suicides are terribly under- counted," said study author Ian Rockett, a professor of epidemiology at West Virginia University. "I think the problem is much worse than the official data would lead us to believe." Rockett estimates there may be 20 percent more suicides than recognized. A call for advocacy Passage of the federal health parity law a few years back required some insurers to treat mental disorders with the same coverage limits as any other disease or health concern. While this has helped some insured people receive treatment, people without insurance haven't benefited at all. Here is what you can do: Contact your elected officials and remind them to: Ÿ Protect mental health care funding Ÿ Expand access to mental health coverage Ÿ Meet the mental health needs of service members, veterans and their families Ÿ Support integration of mental health, addictions and primary care Ÿ Increase access to care for children, youth and young adults with mental illness Visit NAMI.org Medical Director Rebecca Hierholzer, M.D., MBA, FACEP founded COVERSA (Collection of Victim Evidence Regarding Sexual Assault) 12 years ago. Her dedication and passion in providing forensic evidence in sexual assault cases is making an impact on how the justice system treats rape cases. As the only community-based non-profit that provides forensic exams to victims of sexual assault, Dr. Hierholzer tirelessly gives of her time, personal finances, and resources to keep COVERSA viable. Dr. Hierholzer, we honor you and thank you for all that you do. Because of you, we are putting a face on sexual assault, impacting the recovery process of survivors and supporting a system that holds perpetrators accountable.

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