[NYAPRS Enews] WHC: Sign Petition Urging Presidential Candidates to Prioritize 'Whole Health'

Fri Jul 25 08:45:32 EDT 2008

NYAPRS Note: Here's a simple step you can take towards getting your
voice heard by the Presidential candidates about our issues, offered
thanks to Mental Health America. To sign the petition, go to 
http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/PageServer?pagename=elect
ions_whcpetition. See a background on the Whole Health Campaign and a
sample petition below.

Welcome to the Whole Health Campaign

Welcome to the .... Whole Health Campaign, a collaboration of over 40
prominent organizations working to ensure that the current healthcare
debate includes both mind and body. Although the presidential candidates
have been releasing their healthcare plans and whole forums have been
organized for them to debate healthcare, very little has been said about
how the candidates will address mental illness and addictive disorders. 

Here are the facts:

*	Mental health and addictive disorders are the leading cause of
combined death and disability for women and the second leading cause for
all men. 
*	Mental illness and addiction annually cost the US $171 billion
in lost productivity. 
*	Mental health and addictive disorders account for the third
highest loss of workplace productivity among chronic diseases. 
*	More than half of all prison and jail inmates have a mental
health problem or addictive disorder. 
*	50% of students with mental disorders drop out of school, the
highest rate of any disability group. 
*	Americans with serious mental illnesses die - on average - 25
years earlier than the general population, mainly due to untreated
health conditions. 

The American public may not be aware that mental illnesses and addictive
disorders are treatable health challenges - just like cancer, diabetes,
and heart disease. People with mental illnesses and addictions and their
affected family members can recover and have a meaningful life in the
community, if they get help. However... 

*	Well over 59 million Americans with mental health or addiction
disorders don't receive any specialized treatment. 
*	Millions never benefit from prevention initiatives that have
proven successful. 
*	People recovering from mental illness and addiction are
discriminated against as they seek employment, insurance, housing, and
other necessities of life. 

Now is the time for America to adopt health policy reform that will save
tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars - and strengthen
families and communities across the country. The Whole Health Campaign
calls on every Presidential candidate and political party to adopt three
principles: 

1.	Ensure equitable and adequate mental health and addiction
treatment coverage in all public and private health care plans. 
2.	Support policies that promote both individual and family
recovery from mental illnesses and addictions as integral to overall
health. 
3.	Commit to investing in America's future through prevention,
early intervention, and research on mental illnesses and addictions. 

America is ready for healthcare that addresses the whole person, and
they are looking for candidates who get it. When will the media start
covering this issue and ask the candidates if their healthcare plans
truly cover whole persons?

We welcome your comments on this important issue. Please contact us if
your organization would like to join our efforts.

Tammy Seltzer

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

www.TheNationalCouncil.org <http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/> 

-----------------

To sign petition, go to 
http://takeaction.mentalhealthamerica.net/site/PageServer?pagename=elect
ions_whcpetition. 

What follows is a version of what you'll see there. 

Harvey Rosenthal, NYAPRS

  <http://wholehealthcampaign.org/> 

Mental Health America is one of over 40 partner organizations sponsoring
the Whole Health Campaign (learn more <http://wholehealthcampaign.org/>
).

Top of Form

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Bottom of Form

Health care reform is a top election issue, but the presidential
candidates and their parties aren't talking about the importance of
mental health.

Considering all the ways it affects us, mental health is the largest
public health and economic concern facing our country:

*  About one in four American adults-over 55 million people live with a
diagnosable mental health or substance abuse condition. 

*  Despite proven prevention practices, over half of children and adults
and thousands of returning servicemen and women are not receiving the
treatment and services they need.

*  Individuals with severe mental illnesses die, on average, 25 years
earlier than the general population.

*  In 2002 serious mental illnesses cost over $193 billion annually in
lost earnings alone which is more money than the gross revenues of 499
or the Fortune 500 companies.

*  Chronic illnesses drive 75% of health care costs and the mental and
addictive conditions are the most chronic and disabling health condition
in the US. 

The Whole Health Campaign is working to make mental health an integral
part of any health care reform.  Add your name to this petition calling
on the presidential candidates and their parties to recognize the
importance of mental health issues.

Whole Health Campaign leaders will deliver the petitions to major
presidential candidates and political party platform committees.

Full text of petition below. Sending to: 
Democratic National Committee 
Republican National Committee 
Senator Barack Obama 
Senator John McCain 

Petition:

Dear [Committee/Candidate]:

I am concerned about America's approach to helping people with mental
illnesses and addiction disorders. I support the Whole Health Campaign
and call on every presidential candidate and political party to adopt
three principles:

1. Ensure equitable and adequate mental health and addiction treatment
coverage in all public and private health care plans.

2. Support policies that promote individual and family recovery from
mental illnesses and addictions as integral to overall health.

3. Commit to investing in America's future through prevention, early
intervention, treatment, and research related to mental illnesses and
addictions.

Signed by:
[Your name] 
[Your address] 

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