Action | 2011 Mental Health Services Program Changes for Appropriate Utilization & Provider Qualifications |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 4/12/2013 |
I wanted to share my concern about the changes to qualifying mental health diagnoses, specifically in regards to PTSD and anxiety disorders. I fear that individuals with a diagnosis of PTSD, panic disorders, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, etc will fall through the cracks in getting the services they need. The physician determination process can be exhaustive and may become very overwhelming to pursue. Also, it remains a question as to where to go from there to access services. For example, someone who is diagnosed with panic disorder with agoraphobia is not able to leave the home due to crippling anxiety and isolates for days/weeks on end. They may not see a physician, get to the grocery store, access needed community resources, seek psychiatric treatment thereby affecting their ability to get medications. Anxiety can be a crippling condition. To be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, an individual is not able to function or functions minimally in daily life. In regards to PTSD, it goes undiagnosed so often and severely impacts daily life. Remember, people with this diagnosis have been through SIGNIFICANT trauma. These individuals need one on one support and assistance with managing symptoms and living a life they want. I do not think these diagnoses should be limited in any way. They need no roadblocks to services. Please consider including them fully withing the range of severe mental illness.