REAGANOMICS TRICKLE DOWN MENTAL HEALTHCARE HAS MADE US ALL CRAZY
Oh, Ronnie, what have you done? Your mental health policies have turned us all into a bunch of crazies. Trickle-down mental care? More like trickle-down insanity. Privatization of everything and let the market figure it out? That's just crazy talk. Your abject failure of Reaganomics privatization and trickle-down has left us all scratching our heads and wondering what the hell happened.
But fear not, my fellow nutjobs, there is hope on the horizon. We can correct these problems caused by the Reaganomics approach to health care in California and the US. How, you ask? Well, let me tell you.
First, let's talk about how current mental health policies affect homelessness, drugs, and violence. Spoiler alert: not in a good way. The lack of access to adequate community-based services has contributed to the increase of homelessness, violence, and incarceration among people with serious mental illnesses. And let's not forget the opioid and fentanyl epidemics that has ravaged our country. It's time to face the music and admit that Reagan's policies were a disaster.
But don't despair, my fellow loonies. Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a new proposal called the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (or CARE) Court. This program would provide a framework for courts to compel people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders into treatment, while also providing participants with supportive housing and wrap-around services. It's about time someone took some action to fix this mess.
Now, let's talk about the cost of mental health care. It varies by state, but one thing is for sure: it's expensive. The average spending on mental health treatment and services in the US was $225 billion in 2019. That's a lot of dough. But don't worry, some therapists offer sliding scale fees or pro bono services for low-income clients. So, if you're feeling a little crazy but don't want to break the bank, there are options out there for you.
In conclusion, Reagan's mental health policies were a disaster. But we can't just sit around and complain about it. We need to take action and demand better mental health care for ourselves and our fellow citizens. So, let's get out there and make some noise. Let's demand change. And let's do it with a smile on our faces because, hey, if we can't laugh at ourselves, who can we laugh at?
THE DEFT DIVE
Ronald Reagan's mental health policies as governor of California and as president of the United States, and their effects on California and the country.
- - As governor of California from 1967 to 1975, Reagan signed the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act in 1967, which aimed to end the involuntary commitment of people with mental health disorders and establish a conservatorship system for those who could not care for themselves⁵. The act also shifted the responsibility of mental health care from the state to the counties, and reduced the funding and enrollment for state mental institutions⁴. Some critics argue that this policy contributed to the increase of homelessness, violence, and incarceration among people with serious mental illnesses, as many of them could not access adequate community-based services²¹¹. Others contend that the act was a progressive reform that protected the civil rights and dignity of people with mental health disorders, and that the lack of federal support and coordination was the main cause of the problems⁵⁶.
- - As president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, Reagan repealed the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980, which was signed by President Jimmy Carter and provided grants to community mental health centers¹. The act was based on the recommendations of the President's Commission on Mental Health, which sought to improve mental health care in the country¹. Reagan replaced the act with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, which block granted the funds to the states and reduced federal spending on mental health¹⁹. This resulted in the closure of many community mental health centers and programs, and left millions of people with mental health disorders without adequate care or support²⁷. Reagan also opposed the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Health and Human Services, and appointed officials who were hostile to mental health research and advocacy²⁷.
In conclusion, Reagan's mental health policies as governor and president were largely driven by his conservative ideology and fiscal agenda, which favored decentralization, deregulation, and privatization of mental health care. His policies had significant and lasting effects on California and the country, as they reduced the availability and quality of public mental health services, and increased the social and economic costs of untreated mental illness.
Bing, 7/20/2023
(1) MENTAL HEALTH LAWS AND PATIENTS’ RIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA - Placer County, CA. https://www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34528/Mental-Health-Laws-and-Patients-Rights-in-California-2018-Update-PDF.
(2) Ronald Reagan Mental Health Policy In California - KPCC. https://www.kpcc.org/show/airtalk/2004-06-10/ronald-reagan-mental-health-policy-in-california.
(3) Ronald Reagan's shameful legacy: Violence, the homeless, mental illness. https://www.salon.com/2013/09/29/ronald_reagans_shameful_legacy_violence_the_homeless_mental_illness/.
(4) Reagan Didn't Close Down Mental Hospitals - The Gormogons. https://www.gormogons.com/index.php/2013/03/reagan-didnt-close-down-mental-hospitals/.
(5) How a Reagan-era law built California’s mental health system | The .... https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article259026268.html.
(6) Mental Health Systems Act of 1980 - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Health_Systems_Act_of_1980.
(7) Did the Emptying of Mental Hospitals Contribute to Homelessness?. https://www.kqed.org/news/11209729/did-the-emptying-of-mental-hospitals-contribute-to-homelessness-here.
(8) How Reagan’s Mental-Health Concerns Were Handled - New York Magazine. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/01/how-reagans-mental-health-concerns-were-handled.html.
(9) The Facts: President Reagan's Mental Health And Stability While In .... https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-facts-president-reagans-mental-health-and-stability-while-in-office-never-in-question-300580513.html.
(10) Mental Health Systems Act (1980 - S. 1177) - GovTrack.us. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/96/s1177.
(11) California: Reagan and the Mental Health Controversy - JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1725689.
The current state of mental health care in California is a complex and challenging issue that affects millions of Californians. According to the California Health Care Foundation, nearly 1 in 7 California adults experiences a mental illness, and one in 26 has a serious mental illness that makes it difficult to carry out daily activities¹. For children, one in 14 has an emotional disturbance that limits functioning in family, school, or community activities¹. However, close to two-thirds of adults with a mental illness and two-thirds of adolescents with major depressive episodes did not get treatment¹.
There are many factors that contribute to the gap between the need and the availability of mental health care in California, such as the lack of funding, workforce, and coordination among different systems and levels of government². The state has also faced legal and political challenges in implementing policies that aim to improve mental health care, such as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which was passed by voters in 2004 and imposes a 1% tax on incomes above $1 million to fund mental health programs³. The MHSA has been criticized for its lack of oversight, accountability, and transparency, as well as its uneven distribution of funds across counties³.
In response to the mental health crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a new proposal in March 2022 called the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (or CARE) Court, which would provide a framework for courts to compel people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders into treatment, while also providing participants with supportive housing and wrap-around services². The proposal would require all 58 counties to participate in the program, and would serve between 7,000 and 12,000 Californians². The proposal is still pending approval from the Legislature.
The state of mental health care in California is a dynamic and evolving issue that requires ongoing attention and collaboration from various stakeholders. I hope this summary has given you some insight into the current situation and the potential solutions. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with me.
Bing, 7/20/2023
(1) 2022 Edition — Mental Health in California - California Health Care .... https://www.chcf.org/publication/2022-edition-mental-health-california/.
(2) California mental health crisis: Newsom unveils ‘new strategy’ - CalMatters. https://calmatters.org/health/2022/03/newsom-california-mental-illness-treatment/.
(3) Behavioral Health Care - California Department of Managed Health Care. https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/HealthCareinCalifornia/GettheBestCare/BehavioralHealthCare.aspx.
(4) Mental Health Services - DHCS. https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/MentalHealthPrograms-Ind.aspx.
The cost of mental health care varies by state, depending on factors such as the availability of providers, the insurance coverage, the quality of services, and the demand for care. According to the web search results, here are some facts and figures that might help you compare the cost of mental health care across different states:
- - The average spending on mental health treatment and services in the U.S. was $225 billion in 2019¹, which is about 6% of the total health care spending².
- - The state with the highest total amount of mental health expenditures in 2019 was California, with $6.8 billion dedicated to mental health spending³. The state with the second highest amount was New York, with $5 billion allocated to mental health spending³.
- - The state with the highest amount of per client mental health expenditures in 2019 was Hawaii, with $14,779 spent per client annually³. The state with the second highest amount was Alaska, with $13,910 spent per client annually³.
- - The state with the lowest percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured in 2018 was Massachusetts, with 3.8% of adults with a mental illness lacking insurance¹. The state with the highest percentage was Texas, with 21.5% of adults with a mental illness uninsured¹.
- - The average cost of therapy in the U.S. can range from free to upward of $200 per session, depending on the location, the insurance, and the therapist⁴. Some therapists may offer sliding scale fees or pro bono services for low-income clients.
Bing, 7/20/2023
(1) Access to Care Data 2022 | Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-access-care-data.
(2) What you need to know about the cost and accessibility of mental health .... https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/In-The-News/2021/What-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-and-accessibility-of-mental-health-care-in-America.
(3) Mental Health Spending By State Across the US. https://rehabs.com/explore/mental-health-spending-by-state-across-the-us/.
(4) How Much Does Therapy Cost In 2023? – Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/how-much-does-therapy-cost/.
