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Summary
Summary
Few afflictions are as frightening or as heartbreaking as mental illness. It may be a topic that many would prefer to sweep under the rug, but it is a fact of life that we as a society can and must face. We have come a long way over the past few decades in our understanding of mental illness and its potential treatments. Yet, tragically, many across the country who struggle with serious mental illness are unable to find effective, quality medical treatment. As a federal commission on mental health concluded, the system of care is in shambles. But why? And how do we fix it?
Timothy A. Kelly, former Commissioner of Virginia's Department of Mental Health, Retardation, and Substance Abuse, brings his three decades of experience as mental health commissioner, psychology professor, and clinician to bear in confronting this crisis in America's mental health care system. In clear and accessible terms, he exposes the weaknesses in the current system, examining how and why one of the world's richest and most advanced countries has allowed its most vulnerable citizens to be victimized by the very system designed to help them.
Armed with the latest statistics, a lifetime of experience, and heartrending life stories, Kelly argues that the patchwork of care traditionally employed to treat mental illness is simply not up to the task, and that what we need is profound, fundamental, and system-wide change. He then goes on to provide an easy-to-follow road map for achieving lasting transformation, centered on five recommendations for creating a truly effective mental health system of care that enables patients to achieve a lasting recovery.
Mental illness is not going to just go away, but Kelly prescribes a comprehensive plan to make treatment accessible and effective so that those who suffer can rejoin their families and their communities. He shows how a transformed system of community-based care allows those with serious mental illness to finally be able to go home.
Reviews (2)
Choice Review
The central thesis of this readable book is that the US mental-health delivery system is broken and moribund. Kelly (director, DePree Public Policy Institute; psychology, Fuller Graduate School of Psychology) offers a workable line of march for mental-health consumers, families, communities, and political-decision makers. His vision includes five key recommendations: using standardized clinical outcome measures in all 50 states; creating/opening competition among contracts at the state and county level; implementing parity coverage for mental health treatment; empowering mental health consumers and their families; and "winning over" the decision makers who hamper change. Although Kelly's arguments are sound throughout the book's six chapters, his critique of the US mental-health system reveals one glaring omission: the problems he so eloquently and passionately articulates are ultimately linked to a broken and racist mental-health system that attempts to interface (i.e., serve) a multicultural mental-health consumer population. In failing to address this underlying problem, the book is somewhat disappointing. Nevertheless, the book remains valuable and of interest to all mental-health practitioners (psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, and counselors) and policy makers. Includes chapter notes and references. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. G. C. Gamst University of La Verne
Library Journal Review
Over the last 50 years, many state mental hospitals have been disbanded, relegating psychiatric patients to city streets and prisons in the absence of a strong community mental health system. The revolving-door hospitalization of acute cases relies too much on medication, too little on follow-up and family involvement, argues Kelly, a former mental health commissioner in Virginia. He puts forth a sensible plan to rebuild U.S. mental health service, envisioning programs "driven by well-informed consumers demanding innovative, effective, evidence-based practices." Outcome measures, competition, and parity coverage for mental health and consumer involvement are key factors.Å Verdict Case histories and administrative vignettes enliven a businesslike presentation. This concise, authoritative, and readable book is a policy manual to admire and emulate.-E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements | p. ix |
List of Abbreviations | p. xi |
1 Men in Diapers: A System in Shambles | p. 1 |
2 That Which Is Measured Improves | p. 35 |
3 Monopolies Don't Work | p. 65 |
4 Fair Is Fair: Parity for Mental Health Coverage | p. 91 |
5 Let the People Speak | p. 115 |
6 Transforming America's Mental Health System | p. 139 |
Postscript-Information on Mental Illness | p. 165 |
Notes | p. 167 |
References | p. 173 |
Index | p. 181 |
About the Author | p. 193 |