I’ve written about mental health coverage/lack of insurance/finding assistance several times here at Mental Health Notes, and it’ll probably be something I tackle again for this blog event. It’s something you can never really get “too much” information about, you know?

I didn’t know about blog action day, but now I do! I’m going to go register for it in just a sec. I think I can probably come up with something suitable for both blogs.

If you are looking for a topic, one that I come across often is the dilemma faced by those who do not have insurance but still need meds to manage mental health conditions. As a pastor, I have seen this countless times, and since some people’s mental health problems are expressed behaviorally, it can cause a lot of problems for families and relationships. I do limited couseling with people, but I’m sure that you know that it’s very hard to address relational problems until the chemical ones are stablized.

One thing that a lot of people don’t know is that most pharmaceutical companies have programs where they offer meds for free or steeply reduced to people who can’t otherwise afford them. This is how my husband and I get our Wellbutrin and Strattera, respectively. You usually have to go through your doctor to do it, though, which means paying for an office visit–another burden for the uninsured and working poor.

So, yes, I think there’s absolutely a connection between mental illness and poverty, even if it’s only a difference in the resources needed to treat or manage it. Might be something to think about on 10/15…

Kat