Mental health problems can be a very touchy subject, not just for the news media, but for those affected by them as well. In a survey by the American Psychological Association found almost 90 percent of Americans have never heard of the mental health parity law. In 2008, President George W. Bush signed a law extending equal coverage to all aspects of health insurance plans. This law was set to be in place on Jan. 1, 2011, and, still, many Americans still do not know about it.
A PR Newswire article states nearly one-quarter of American adults suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem but only 33 percent of those affected receive treatment. Hearing that there is a new law in place offering to help pay for treatment of those with mental health problems makes me hope that the people who are silently suffering will be more willing to ask for help.
Having options to treat any ailments people may be dealing with is a step towards more acceptance of mental health diseases. Without being able to talk to someone the problem is only likely to get worse. Hopefully this awareness will be a good thing and people will receive the treatment they deserve.
-Emily Brown
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