# Presentation: 743204

## “Mental Health Solutions and Resources for Long Term Living"

- Testimony Provided by:
- Steven Shon, MD
- Medical Director of Behavioral Health
- Texas Department of State Health Services

- Prepared by:
-                                                                   Steven Shon, MD		Beth Stalvey, MPH, PhD
- Texas Department of State Health Services 	Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
-            Robert Gee, Ed.D. 		Rodolfo Arredondo, Ed.D.
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

## Causes of Disability / United States, Canada, and Western Europe, 2000  (SOURCE: World Health Organization, 2001)

**Migraine**

**Diabetes**

**Cancer (Malignant neoplasms)**

**Communicable Diseases**

**Digestive Diseases**

**Injuries (Disabling)**

**Sense Organ Diseases**

**Cardiovascular Diseases**

**Respiratory Diseases**

**Musculoskeletal Diseases**

**Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders**

**Mental Illnesses**

- Causes of Disability / United States, Canada, and Western Europe, 2000  (SOURCE: World Health Organization, 2001)

**0%**

**4%**

**8%**

**12%**

**16%**

**20%**

**24%**

**Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementias**

## Texas Board of Medical Examiners - Physicians by Specialty N=53,566

| Specialty | M.D.'S | D.O.'S | Total |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |
| Family Practice | 5735 | 1144 | 6879 |
| General Practice | 822 | 236 | 1058 |
| Internal Medicine | 6583 | 292 | 6875 |
|  |  |  |  |
| Geriatrics | 51 | 5 | 56 |
|  |  |  |  |
| Psychiatry | 2197 | 80 | 2277 |
| Psychoanalysis | 26 | 0 | 26 |

- The Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, May 31, 2005

## Vision & Recommended Resolution

**Vision **
*	*
*	**We envision a future when Aging Americans with a mental illness will have easy access to services and best practices that would lead to recovery, a future when mental illnesses can be prevented or cured, a future when mental illnesses are detected and treated early by the older American’s primary care provider - a future when older Americans can live, work, learn, and participate fully in their community without stigma.*
*	**(Adapted from the report of the President’s New *
*Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003)** *
**Recommended Resolution**
*	*
*	**The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health’s goals and recommendations and the recently released: “Transforming Mental Health Care in America - The Federal Action Agenda: First Steps” provides the framework for addressing the special considerations of Aging Americans. We feel strongly that this action agenda, collaboratively supported by 20 Federal agencies, is the vehicle for transforming the mental health system that takes into consideration the social, biological, developmental, and special needs older Americans.*

## Improving Access and Continuity 

- Primary Recommendation:* *
*Support Outreach and Integrated Services*
- Secondary Recommendations:
*Support the Coordination of Services*
*Support the Provision of Medicare Co-payment, Prescription Coverage, and Payments*
*Address Stigma and Cultural Sensitivity*
*Support the Provision of Screening and Focus on Prevention*

- President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003

## Improving Quality 

- Primary Recommendation:
*Support the Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices*
- Secondary Recommendations:
*Support Mental Health and Aging Research*
*Promote Wellness and Recovery*

- President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003

## Developing a Trained Workforce and Caregiver Capacity 

- Primary Recommendation:
*Support the Development of Workforce Capacity, with Training in Geriatrics*
- Secondary Recommendation:
*Support the Enhancement of Caregiver and Peer Support Programs, Enhance family-caregiver and peer support services*

- President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003