Mental Health Crisis

  Because of government cut backs the mental health community has had to cut back.  The local government funded clinic can't afford to keep doctors. Patients may no longer have someone to talk to,  just someone to keep writing prescriptions for their meds.  Even with insurance it's still a no win situation. Insurance companies will allow only so many visits to a psychiatrist. Sometimes you NEED more than they will allow.  They even can go against your doctor when it comes to hospitalization.  I met someone today who had to declare bankruptcy because the doctor said they needed to be in the hospital than the insurance company would pay for.  Some people only have medicare for insurance and alot of doctors won't accept that.  An even if they do, that does not help with the cost of medicines.  If you are unable to work  where does the money come from?  Do you skip meals?  Let the rent go?  You have to take your meds or you could be right back in the hospital and the insurance refusing to pay.  If all this wasn't bad enough, I found out today how lucky I am to have the psychiatrist I have.  Most have stopped doing any after hour help.  You can call to say your having a problem, or want to ask a question about your meds and instead of helping they are sending you to the ER.  That's great.  A 2 to 3 minute phone call could help, but instead you are told to get dressed, drive to the ER, wait your turn, then pay on your way out. What is health care coming to?  How many people must fall through the cracks?  How many people are going to suffer and die before someone wakes up and figures out how to help someone in need?  Shuting down state run mental hospitals may have saved the government money, but it is costing lives.  People are literally dying because no one is there to help them.  This is a real shame in a country that is supposed to be so rich, so caring, so welling to open out a hand to other countries. 

I know why there are so many killing themselves, homeless, doing illeagal drugs, begging, and going to jail.  Now you do to.