Physician says more resources needed
MINERAL COUNTY - A study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness stated in 2010, 39,000 adults live with serious mental illness in the state of Montana and the public mental health system in the state only provides care to about 43 percent of them.
The study described the state’s mental health care system as “inadequate to meet needs” with the state only spending $146 per capita in 2006 on mental health services.
One physician in Alberton is trying to change how residents in Mineral County receive mental health services.
Registered nurse and mental health practitioner Dessye Dee Clark is trying to bring a chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) to Mineral County. Dr. Clark said the only chapter in the state is in Missoula and that’s too far away for many people in Mineral County suffering from mental illness.
“Most states have several chapters and we only have one,” Clark said. “Considering mental health issues occur all over the state, we should have more. We’d like to have one in Superior and in Alberton. We have people that are willing to facilitate those groups.”
The purpose of DBSA chapters, according to the organization’s website, is to provide support, help, hope and education to improve the lives of people who have mood disorders. The DBSA is a leading peer-directed national organization that focuses on two of the most common mental health disorders, depression and bipolar disorder.
Clark said the chapters can help people in a variety of ways. She said beyond just a support group, DBSA chapters engage people with mental illness on multiple levels of support and help.
“Some of the things we’ve done is to help pay for medication,” Clark said. “We can help with gas money to get to appointments. We put picnics together and get people out of their homes. Even though we live in a beautiful place, some people don’t have cars or money for gas.”
According to information in the NAMI study about mental health services in the state of Montana, the need for more resources in areas like Mineral County is vast. The study states most residents rely on public services for care but only 12.2 percent are on Medicaid and 152,000 Montana residents are uninsured.
The study continues to say the price paid for untreated mental illness goes far beyond simply a financial burden. In 2006, 189 residents of Montana committed suicide. The study stated suicide is “almost always the result of untreated or undertreated mental illness.”
Mental illness doesn’t just affect adults according to the study. During the 2006-2007 school year, approximately 61 percent of students in the state aged 14 years and older suffering from mental illness dropped out of high school.
Clark said until she and others are able to establish a DBSA chapter in Mineral County, those suffering from mental health problems have few resources in the area. In the meantime, Clark said while she is trying to get the word out about the need for expanded mental health care resources, there are options for people in Mineral County.
“Right now people can go to the DBSA Missoula chapter website and contact us,” Clark said. “The resources are scarce but they are available. We can do peer-to-peer support. A lot can be done with mentoring or advocating for someone. If someone is not able to get resources in a timely way, I would be willing to advocate for them. We might be able to help them until they can get official support.”