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Health Care Blog

  • Leveraging National Resources to Reduce Suicide in the United States

    Posted by Jane Pearson on September 3, 2011 at 12:21 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    NIMH

    Suicide is a major public health problem that affects every sector of society. It is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24. In the United States alone, more than 30,000 suicides occur every year—roughly twice the rate of homicides. Most suicides are thought to be associated with untreated mental illness, such as major depression.

    An important goal of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to prevent suicide. But it takes communities dedicated to working together to address the complex problem of suicide and to translate research into practice. One way we help to facilitate this is by leveraging the resources, knowledge and experiences of a nationwide network of partner organizations dedicated to helping those with mental disorders. These partners—more than 80 at the national level and 55 partners in every state, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico—serve as the “eyes, ears and feet” of NIMH.  About half of these partners work actively to prevent suicide in their local communities, many of which are underserved rural areas. For example, the NIMH Outreach Partner in Montana used NIMH data to educate immigrants from India about depression and suicide prevention in the aftermath of two suicides among Asian American college students. Our Missouri and South Carolina partners have developed strong partnerships with faith-based organizations to train clergy in Hispanic and African American communities to recognize the symptoms of depression and warning signs for suicide. These churches are then able to link members in crisis to mental health services.

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  • Champions of Change: Engaging the Community in the Movement to Prevent Suicide

    Posted by Bob Gebbia on August 30, 2011 at 1:27 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

    In recent years there has been a growing community-based movement in the United States aimed at preventing loss of life from suicide. This movement has the potential to create a dramatic change in how we understand suicide and the mental disorders that contribute to suicide and offers hope for the prevention of suicide.

    This movement is characterized by efforts to educate the public, development of new interventions and a growing constituency comprised of people affected by this issue — the family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide and those who struggle with a mental disorder and/or suicidal behavior. However, a steady increase in the number of suicide deaths each year in the U.S. shows the challenges we face and the need for greater investment in prevention, if we are to reverse this trend.

    The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is at the forefront of the movement to prevent loss of life from suicide and is investing in the scientific research, education and advocacy needed to address this formidable public health problem. And AFSP is most grateful to be selected by the Obama Administration for a Champions of Change award and honored to participate in a White House discussion on suicide prevention.

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  • White House Internship: Being a Part of Something Bigger than Myself

    Posted by Alana Mounce on August 25, 2011 at 3:23 PM EDT

    A White House Internship is an opportunity to serve your country, learn valuable skills to make a difference in your community, and be part of something bigger than yourself. After all, President Obama once said, “…it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.”

    During my internship I witnessed the passage of the Affordable Care Act. This historic piece of legislation made a difference in the lives of everyday Americans to make health care more affordable and available. As an uninsured 22 year-old, the Affordable Care Act impacted me directly. Now I and other young people can be covered under our parent’s health insurance.

    Health care vote reaction

    President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and senior staff, react in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, as the House passes the health care reform bill, March 21, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Building Substance Abuse Prevention Programs

    Posted by Cindy Schaider on August 18, 2011 at 10:38 AM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

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    On August 5, 2011, I joined ten representatives from nine other agencies who were honored by the White House as Champions of Change for work to reduce drug use and its consequences, and for empowering and inspiring members of our communities.  The individuals and programs represented the four-pronged approach the Administration is taking to address substance abuse in our nation: prevention, treatment, recovery and interdiction. 

    As a 30-year veteran in the substance abuse prevention field, I was thrilled to see drug abuse prevention listed as the first chapter in the 2011 National Drug Control Strategy, issued by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in July.  The five Principles articulated in the Strategy encompass strategies that can be practiced by drug prevention coalitions and agencies across the Nation and which are based on modern research and best practices.

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  • Making Insurance Plans Easier to Understand

    Posted by Don Berwick on August 17, 2011 at 12:10 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Cross-posted from HealthCare Notes

    Having affordable, quality health insurance is incredibly important. But how can you pick the plan that is best for you and your family if insurance plans are written in words you cannot understand or in type so small you can barely read it? And how can you take advantage of the health benefits you have if you don’t know what your plan covers?

    You’re not alone in your confusion. Too many Americans don’t have access to information in plain language to help them understand the health coverage they have.

    Now, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, every American consumer will receive an important new tool to understand their coverage. Under proposed rules announced today, health insurers and employers who offer coverage to their workers must provide you with clear and consistent information about your health plan.

    Specifically, you will have access to two important insurance forms:

    • An easy to understand Summary of Benefits and Coverage
    • A uniform Glossary of terms commonly used in health insurance coverage

    This will include basic information that every person should have, including:

    • What is your annual premium?
    • What is your annual deductible?
    • What services are NOT covered by my policy?
    • What will my costs be if I go to a provider in my network versus one that is not in my network? 

    Below is an example of a page from the proposed new form:

    These common sense rules benefit from a public process led by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and a working group composed of consumer advocates, employers, insurers, and other people involved in your insurance and care. As with all changes to health care, we are giving the public a chance to review this proposal and send us their comments before we make the rules final.

    But starting in March 2012, if you are one of the 180 million Americans with private health insurance, help is on the way to make sure you understand your health insurance.

    And this means you and your family will have an easier time accessing the health benefits you currently have--and you will be able to make a more informed decision about purchasing the coverage you need.

    For more information about this announcement, please visit our factsheet on health insurance coverage.

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  • Jobs, Healthcare, and Education Resources for the African American Community

    Posted by Michael Blake on August 12, 2011 at 7:29 PM EDT

    President Obama is deeply committed to securing the future prosperity of the African American community, whether through investing in underserved communities or closing education achievement gaps. In accordance with the Administration's vision, winning the future for African Americans means addressing the community's specific needs with the right resources. To bring economic relief and equal opportunity, the following list contains resources and websites we'd like to highlight--resources that promote job creation, increase access to higher education, and help out in healthcare coverage.

    Spurring Jobs and Small Businesses: In these difficult economic times, reducing unemployment and a balanced approach to deficit reduction is at the top of our list. A key role to turning the economy around is investing in small businesses in underserved, low-income areas:

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