Mental health treatment works

Faced again with a need to close the budget gap, Florida legislators are considering slashing funding for vital community mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Last year, experts and advocates were able to demonstrate the large return taxpayers receive from investing in treatment services due to future reductions in expensive emergency room visits, jail admissions and prison incarcerations when quality, low-cost mental health treatment alternatives are available.

This year, I challenge legislators to make budgetary decisions based upon the facts surrounding the efficiency and effectiveness of the evidence-based practices being implemented in Florida's mental health and substance abuse systems rather than common myths and perceptions associated with mental illness.

In conjunction with the state Department of Children & Families, the Florida Council for Community Mental Health and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association recently conducted independent studies on the science behind mental illness, substance abuse and behavioral health. Science- and evidence-based practices not only are effective in treating disorders, but could possibly lead to cures. The study also found that financing treatments for mental illness and addiction disorders for those without health insurance substantially reduces or avoids economic and societal costs associated with child abuse and neglect, among other areas. There is also overwhelming evidence that Florida's mental health and substance abuse agencies are at the forefront in providing evidence-based care; however, funding levels still remain close to last in the nation.

Medical research is quickly providing new, breakthrough treatments for mental illness and addiction disorders that further budget reductions will hinder Florida's mental health system from implementing. Florida's citizens deserve to have the best care available, and it's time to face the facts that behavioral health treatment outcomes parallel treatments of physical disease and that good mental health is essential to good physical health. With adequate funding and proper education, all of Florida's citizens will continue to have the opportunity to lead active, productive lives.