Anyone who has seen a family member or friend suffer through mental health problems can likely tell you: we, as a country, need to do better in ensuring people get the proper mental healthcare treatment.
A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that no one is making sure patients, many veterans, get the help they need. No matter who you are, it is essential to get mental health treatment at the first instance of a problem. This will be key in attaining Social Security Administration disability benefits.
The report found, as an example of the lack of coordinator, that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is supposed to be coordinating the 47 programs to address homelessness. However, the report said “it has shown little leadership in coordinating federal efforts on behalf of those with serious mental illness.”
Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., chairman of a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the report is a “much-needed wake up call,” according to USA Today.
“The federal government’s approach to addressing mental illness is a convoluted and disjointed mess,” says Murphy, who is also a child psychologist. “Shame on us if we don’t take action and work on fixing the system wide failures identified in this report so that we can focus resources on helping those in desperate need of medical services.”
A great majority of claimants who apply for Social Security disability benefits suffer from some form of mental illness. Depression is the most common ailment and can vary from circumstantial to life long chronic depression. More resources are required to treat those who suffer from mental illness as, unfortunately, this area of human suffering is currently underserved.
Our law offices are experts in securing and presenting evidence of mental illness to the SSA on behalf of our clients so the can be approved for disability benefits.
