The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 forged a legal framework to guarantee people with mental health conditions the same access to care and coverage as those with physical conditions or injuries. Unfortunately, there's little federal or state enforcement for the Parity Act. Meanwhile, numerous other shortcomings in our mental health safety net cry out for action.
The short list includes:
- Shortages of psychiatrists and other mental health specialists
- Limited access to mental health support for children in schools
- Too few community-based programs complementing care in hospitals or clinics
- A criminal justice system that defaults to incarceration rather than referral and treatment
This content is repurposed from MM&M.
