health
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 9-15, 2009 Page A-5
Michigan mental illness health cuts
(Second of two parts)
By Mike Scott
and working with each patient medications was originally
to understand what works not subject to the preautho-
Medications best.”
rization/preferred medication
At the root of the issue is One of the major problems
list requirements.”
the importance of the medi- with medications relates to a
cations that are provided to term known as prescription Out of options
mental health patients. As switching. While this is a phe-
recently as 30 years ago, in- nomenon that has impacted
Many newly diagnosed
dividuals with an illness such various healthcare disci-
mental health patients are
as schizophrenia or bipolar plines, it is a significant issue
young adults as the onset of
disease had few treatment op- for mental health patients and
such illnesses often begins
tions. Many lived for months providers.
to manifest itself at the ages
PAUL BRIDGEWATER (left), Detroit Area Agency on Aging president and CEO, receives or years at a time in hospitals
of 18-25, Sanders said. A per-
or mental health facilities and
“Why not give the people
$35,000 check from Pamela Alexander, director of community development, Ford Motor Com-
the ability to lead a regular life
who need a mental health drug
centage of these newly diag-
pany Fund, to support the delivery of hot, fresh-cooked dinners to 11,200 elderly residents. – HB
was virtually impossible.
for stability what they need
nosed young adults may not
Meeks photos because there is a chance that
be eligible for Medicaid ben-
That was true for Elijah dangerous things could occur
efits, nor are they any steady
Lyons, who spent time down if they don’t get the treatment
employment situations that
South in county jails and fed- they need,” said Judge Dawnn
allow them to have some type
eral prisons. At the time, it Gruenberg, 37th District Court of regular health insurance
wasn’t known that he suffered judge in Macomb County. coverage.
from schizophrenia and his
actions were a direct result of
Prescription switching es- There are tens of thousands
a brain illness.
sentially occurs when a desire of residents in the state that
to save money or a lack of
have mental health illnesses
When Lyons was first diag-
funding makes it necessary
who do not receive medica-
nosed in the early 1990s, the
for a patient’s medications to
tion, Sanders said. A recent
medications he took were far
be changed to reflect lower-
advanced from the ones avail-
study by the Michigan Mental
cost alternative, often generic
able in the 1970s and 1980s
Health Commission estimated
drugs. Generally that individu-
which tended to leave patients
al’s physician has little say in
that the population of Wayne
in “zombie” states, said Dr.
the matter. But even a medica-
County residents alone who
Kevin Johnson who works
tion switch can lead to disas-
received assistance for mental
with Phoenix Friendship
trous results.
health diseases were about
OVER 1,000 Ford and community volunteers pack, distribute and individually delivered fresh-
House. Newer medications 66,000 in 2008.
continued to be released over
“The brain is very complex
cooked, hot nutritious meals to 5,500 homebound seniors in metro Detroit on Thanksgiving
the last 15 years which are
and one size doesn’t fit all,”
Without his current list of
Day.
generally more effective and
Solomon said.
medications Lyons is con-
have significantly fewer side
If the state does cut its
cerned that more significant
Ford gives grant to Meals on Wheels
effects.
funding for mental health
side effects such as weight
“Before taking these medi-
services, it will likely become
gain and sleeplessness will
For the second consecutive delivered fresh-cooked, hot Agency on Aging president and
cations my speech was slurred
more difficult for physicians
return. And those types of
year, Ford Motor Company nutritious meals to 5,500 CEO. “Adding to the value of
and I was hearing voices all the
to prescribe the right mix for
side effects represent a best-
Fund is donating funds to help homebound seniors in metro the monetary donation are the
time in my head,” Lyons said.
their patients, said Dr. Leigh
case scenario, he said.
feed 11,200 local homebound Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. hundreds of Ford volunteers
White, president of the Michi-
Johnson says the average
seniors on Thanksgiving and who will pack and deliver the
Now he has a job and has
gan Society of Psychiatrists.
state resident would quickly
Christmas through the compa-
Through the Detroit Area
meals. This meal and friendly
been living independently for
If mental health patients no notice the social impact if
ny’s commitment to programs
Agency on Aging (DAAA) De-
Holiday Meals on Wheels vol-
several years.
longer have access to a medi- Medicaid funding was cut.
like the Detroit Area Agency
troit Meals on Wheels, a fed-
unteer may be the only food Mental health illnesses are
cation that has made such a
on Aging Holiday Meals on
eral and state funded program,
and company they will have on
There likely would be more
a challenge because it takes
significant difference in their
Wheels program.
meals are delivered to seniors homeless individuals that
five days a week. Unfortunate-
the holiday. There are more time for physicians to find
life, it may lead to tens of
would have obvious mental ill-
“We know how important it ly, there are no public funds to
corporate and community vol- the right mix of medications
thousands of state residents
nesses. Psychiatric hospitals
is for the Detroit Area Agency feed metro Detroit area home-
unteers than ever this year.” that work for each individual
will be more likely to drop out
might have to be reopened or
on Aging’s Holiday Meals on bound seniors during week- At present, HMOW feeds be-
patient, said Sherri Solomon,
of school, lose a job, jeopar-
Wheels program to continue ends and holidays. In 1988, tween 3,500 to 5,700 seniors
executive director for the Na-
dize relationships, and possi-
established.
feeding thousands of home- DAAA under the leadership of each Thanksgiving, Christ-
tional Alliance on Mental Ill-
bly lose the ability to do every- “You don’t see (many)
bound seniors in Southeast Paul Bridgewater, joined the mas, Easter and Labor Day.
ness in Michigan. With the
day tasks. It will most likely people on street corners as
Michigan on Thanksgiving national campaign and created These holiday meals are made
large number of different med-
lead to increased costs for
much today who are look-
and Christmas,” said Jim the Holiday Meals on Wheels possible by a grassroots cam-
ications available, it may take
our entire system through in-
Vella, president, Ford Motor (HMOW) program, adopting the paign that raises private con-
only one to two weeks to sta-
ing skyward and muttering to
creased psychiatric and medi-
Company Fund and Commu- slogan that “Hunger Takes No tributions. Hundreds of DAAA
bilize a patient once a diagno-
themselves,” Johnson said.
cal hospitalizations, possibly
nity Services. “We are com- Holiday” to feed seniors who employees, employees of other
sis is first made.
“That is a direct result of more
more homeless population
individuals getting the medi-
mitted to doing what we can to would otherwise go hungry on companies, partnering organi- Such a short timeline was and possibly more mentally ill
cations they need.”
address the needs of the sen- holidays. zations, corporations, church- previously impossible before imprisoned, White said.
iors so we have stepped right es and individuals sell holiday the array of newer medica-
in again this year with several
“In the face of all the cut-
greeting cards for $5 each.
“These predictions sound
General fund cuts have al-
tions became available.
hundred of our employees and
backs, we are truly fortunate
For every card, a homebound
drastic, but when you change
ready begun the process of
their family members to vol-
that the Ford Motor Company
senior is fed through this pro-
“Today we have medica- a person’s medication that
eliminating open access, said
unteer and pack and deliver
Fund came to us recognizing
gram.
tions and a cocktail that is works, the period of finding
Solomon, whose daughter has
the meals.”
the need to feed our home- customized for each patient,” another medication (on the ap-
gone from a struggling high
bound senior population help- To volunteer for the Christ- Solomon said. “But we need proved list) that works can be
school student to a college
There were at least 1,300 ing the community’s elderly mas Day delivery or make a to have the ability to offer all very difficult and disabling for honors student with the help
volunteers who packed, dis- who are less fortunate,” said donation, call (313) 446-4444. these medications because that person,” he said. “This is of medications that have treat-
tributed and individually Paul Bridgewater, Detroit Area we’re still learning about them the reason that this class of ed her mental illness.
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