Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. The Social Distancing concept, which is intended to reduce disease transmission and currently being practiced by communities at large, can be very isolating and lead to increase in stress levels. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.

People who might have more difficulty responding effectively to the stress of a crisis include:

• Those who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use
• Children and teens

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, and feel like you want to harm yourself or others please call 911.

In general, health impacts from stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

People with physical and mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. Make sure you continue to take your medications as prescribed and contact your healthcare provider if you find you are starting to feel worse.

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. You can do this remotely through phone or video.

Things you can do to support yourself

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others over phone or video. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Look out for these common signs of distress:

• Feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear.
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares and upsetting thoughts and images.
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Anger or short-temper.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Reduce stress in yourself and others

1. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.
2. Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
3. Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
4. Connect with others over phone or video. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
5. Use trusted sources for information such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), The World Health Organization and state health department websites and encourage others to do the same.

For Parents

Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include

• Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
• Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
• Excessive worry or sadness
• Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
• Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
• Difficulty with attention and concentration
• Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
• Unexplained headaches or body pain
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

There are many things you can do to support your child, including:

• Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share factual information about COVID-19 from the aforementioned trusted sources in a way that your child or teen can understand.
• Reassure your child or teen it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
• Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
• Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
• Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members over the phone or through video.

Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

To learn more about what Magellan Healthcare is doing to support clients during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

To learn more about Magellan Health’s corporate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to view Magellan’s available resources click here: https://www.magellanhealth.com/news/covid-19/

In 1989, one survey of the general public found that more than half of respondents believed lack of discipline was a possible cause of mental illness. The survey found that, at that time, Americans were more likely to receive information about mental illness from mass media than from medical providers or psychologists. Thirty years later, with the availability of information on the internet, the public should theoretically have a more accurate and balanced perspective of mental illness. But is the public obtaining their information from science-based sources? While there is still much to learn about mental illness, scientists have identified several factors that can play a role in mental health, including genetics, environmental exposure, altered brain chemistry, significant stress, and comorbid medical conditions. With the availability of misinformation on the internet and on social media websites in particular, are we really any better educated on mental health than we were 30 years ago?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that approximately 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness annually, with approximately 1 in 25 experiencing mental illness that substantially interferes with or limits 1 or more major life activities. Based on data from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 19% have an anxiety disorder, 2.8% live with bipolar disorder, and fewer than 1% have schizophrenia in the United States (US) adult population. In addition, 7.2% of adults have experienced at least 1 major depressive episode in the last year. Unfortunately, only about 43.3% of adults with a mental health condition received mental health services within the past year, and of those with a serious mental illness, only 64.1% received mental health services within the past year. Even the indirect costs of mental health have a significant impact. Serious mental illnesses have been estimated to cost over $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year in the US, and mental illness has been predicted to cost the global economy $16 trillion by 2030.

Much has changed in the treatment of mental illnesses in the past 30 years. Key treatments for depression, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and newer serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), have mitigated some of the limitations of earlier antidepressants (e.g., drug-food interactions or select adverse effects). Even in the past year, novel approvals for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and postpartum depression (PPD) have emerged. For those with schizophrenia, the availability of newer generation antipsychotics has significantly altered care as well. Although testing for genetic alterations to better identify the best medication choice for a patient is in its relative infancy, the role of pharmacogenomics is rapidly expanding, too. These advances offer promise for individuals with mental illness, but no medication is without risks, and a discussion with a licensed medical provider is essential to establish an appropriate treatment regimen. In addition to medications, the role of nonpharmacologic treatment has expanded in the past 30 years as well, with additional treatment modalities beyond the advancements in psychotherapy alone (e.g., modern cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy). A more holistic approach, incorporating lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, exercise) and non-traditional medicine (e.g., meditation, acupuncture), is also gaining in popularity; however, it is critical to understand that herbal or “natural” treatments can have adverse or toxic effects and drug interactions. These should only be used in consultation with a healthcare provider.

Mental illness can contribute to the risks for suicide. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide rates have increased by approximately 30% from 1999 to 2016. Notably, suicide is rarely caused by a single factor, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that approximately 54% of those who die by suicide do not have a diagnosed mental health condition. Regardless, this leaves a significant portion of patients with known mental health conditions where intervention may have been helpful. Moreover, NAMI also reports that approximately 90% of those who die by suicide show symptoms of a mental health condition. The CDC includes several warning signs on their website and offers advice to several groups ranging from laypersons to the government to healthcare providers. One component the CDC emphasizes to healthcare systems is the need for affordable and effective mental and physical healthcare where people live. In addition, the Zero Suicide Institute provides a framework for continuous quality improvement in health and behavioral healthcare systems aiming to prevent suicide.

Of late, the public seems particularly concerned with the risk of violence in those with a mental illness. A 2006 survey found that 32% and 60% of Americans thought people with depression and schizophrenia, respectively, were likely to act violently toward someone else; however, research has demonstrated that there are several factors that contribute to violence, and that when accounting for these additional factors, the presence of a mental illness is only a modest contributor (at best) to violence. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 19.4% of those over 12 years of age have used an illicit drug in the past year and 3% had at least 1 illicit drug use disorder. Additionally, 3.7% of adults reported dual diagnosis (both any mental illness and substance use disorder). Studies of patients with substance abuse or dual diagnosis have found higher correlations with violence compared to mental illness alone. Most importantly, adequate treatment has demonstrated improved outcomes.

With the discussion of mental health in the press and the plethora of inaccurate information on mental health online, it is difficult for the public to develop a truthful foundation on mental illness. While public access to information and scientific discovery have advanced in the past 30 years, the most critical component for the proper diagnosis, effective treatment, and safety of those with mental illness remains consultation with a healthcare provider and/or team.

If you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, contact the free and confidential Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is available to anyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As we observe National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we sat down with Dr. Rakel Beall-Wilkins, Magellan Healthcare medical director.

 Magellan Health Insights: Dr. Beall-Wilkins, thank you for speaking with us today. Of course, everyone’s mental health is critical, but why is it important to pay particular attention to the mental health of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)?

Dr. Rakel Beall-Wilkins: We know that mental health conditions can be successfully treated. However, BIPOC are significantly less likely to receive treatment for mental health conditions, including substance use. And it’s reaching crisis levels, especially among our young people. For example, suicide is now the third leading cause of death among African American males who are 15-24 years old.

Magellan Health Insights: What are the barriers to BIPOC receiving high quality mental health treatment?

Dr. Rakel Beall-Wilkins: BIPOC are less likely to seek treatment, both for their physical and mental health. However, when they do reach out for assistance, they are less likely to receive consistent, high-quality treatment.

There are many contributing factors to these barriers. The high costs of care can be a deterrent. Most BIPOC in the U.S. (with the exception of Asians) have higher than average rates of poverty. BIPOC are more likely to lack insurance coverage, and may only seek emergency care, which costs more and is less effective than sustained treatment. Medications or diagnostic procedures may be viewed as too expensive. Or reliable transportation for follow-up care may not be available.

There are also what are called the social determinants of health (SDoH). These include factors such as consistent transportation, the availability of healthy food, safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety and working conditions. BIPOC are more frequently negatively impacted by the SDoH. For example, these members are more likely to be homeless or move frequently, which interferes with maintaining consistent treatment. They may lack adequate nutrition and are at greater risk for having associated medical conditions like hypertension or diabetes.

Further, the stigma around mental health conditions, while improving, is still a deterrent to seeking treatment—for everyone. Some cultures may see it as taboo to request help or be seen as someone who needs help.

When BIPOC patients do seek treatment, there may be no one available who speaks their language. In some clinical settings I’ve been in, it could take a week to arrange for an interpreter or a therapist who was proficient in the patient’s language. They may not have a primary care physician (PCP) to help with screening for mental health conditions or provide follow-up care. In addition, the community clinics where BIPOC are more likely to receive care may be understaffed, overcrowded and have long wait times. Understaffing may lead to inadequate screening or even misdiagnosis. And, frankly, the clinic also may not be in a place where the member feels safe traveling so, they may hesitate to go in the first place or return for continued treatment.

Magellan Health Insights: How can everyone, including healthcare professionals, best support minority mental health?

Dr. Rakel Beall-Wilkins: Everyone can help eliminate stigma. Be open to talking and hearing about mental health conditions, and make it clear that you know that having a mental health condition is nothing to be ashamed of. When someone you care about is going through a difficult time, encourage them to get help, and learn ways you can support someone who coping with a mental health challenge.

As healthcare providers, we personally can help by:

• Ensuring we are taking into account each person’s wishes when referring them to other providers: We should ask every patient whether they prefer to see someone of a specific race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.
• Educating ourselves to be more culturally competent and making cultural training a priority for our staff.
• Expanding our workforces with staff from various backgrounds, sexual orientations, cultures and with varied linguistic skills particularly for the unique cultures that are most prevalent in the community.
• Screening for psychiatric conditions during routine visits. Many patients will report physical symptoms instead of talking about the underlying mental health concerns. PCPs and others see many cases of mild or moderate depression during routine care, and screening every patient can help prevent costly emergency visits and admissions. Self-screening tools can also help.

Beyond what we can personally do to educate and equip ourselves and our staff, I believe that the best solutions come from an integrated, collaborative approach. Everyone can help eliminate the disparities. If we work with leaders in the community, for example in churches and schools, we can raise awareness of mental health conditions, destigmatize treatment seeking, help address the social determinants, and improve the lives of everyone in our communities.

Reasons to tell people about it

Whether or not you discuss your condition with family, friends or coworkers is a personal decision. You may find it hard to talk about your diagnosis, or you may be concerned about how others will react. Ideally, the people around you will accept your illness and be encouraging. Bear in mind that they might not know very much about your condition. While they may want to help you, they may not know the best way to help. You can give them a better chance to support you by thinking ahead about how to tell them about your mental illness.

Why to tell
One reason to tell others about your mental illness is to receive encouragement. Talking to a sympathetic friend or loved one can reduce your stress level and improve your mood. You may no longer feel like you are keeping a secret. You may also want to ask for concrete support, like help finding treatment or rides to appointments. Or, maybe you want to share your crisis plan with a trusted family member.

When to tell
Telling people is a very personal decision and should only be done when you’re ready. It might help to practice how you tell people with a professional, such as a therapist. You can discuss your worries and how to react to issues, questions and comments that might arise. Practicing may help you clarify how you feel about your condition and inform who you want to tell.

Make sure you are in a calm environment when you introduce the topic and give the person time to adjust to the idea, especially if he or she don’t know a lot about your condition.

If you are compelled to tell people during a period where you are unwell, try to locate the most supportive person in your life for support as you go through the process.

Who to tell
You are the expert on your condition and can decide for yourself the right or wrong number of people to tell. Some people will benefit from telling many family and friends. Others may benefit by telling a couple of close friends and waiting to tell others.

Make a list of the people you’re considering telling and include those closest to you. Also list the most emotionally skilled people you know, even if you don’t know them that well.

Personal relationships
When telling family, friends or someone you are in a romantic relationship with about your condition, their response will generally go in one of three directions:

• The person is genuinely comfortable with your disclosure and things stay the same
• The person is very uncomfortable and ends or changes the relationship
• The person says he or she is fine with it, and then does a fast or slow fade from your life

Coworkers
In a job, you have to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages of being open. Weigh the potential negative impact on things like stigma from coworkers against your need for special accommodations, which are considered part of your civil rights. Before you share information about your condition, you should learn about your legal rights and also take into consideration your work environment. Consider approaching your Human Resources contact to gather support.

Once you’ve told someone, you’ll understandably be concerned about their reaction. One sign they can handle it is if they treat you the same during or after the disclosure. Friends stay friends. Colleagues stay polite and interested. If you continue to get the same “vibes” from people, you can be pretty sure that your disclosure has not changed the relationship for worse. And that is the best outcome of all.

Knowing that certain people are aware of an important part of your life and that they accept you and support you can be incredibly helpful and liberating. While some people may disappear, it’s better to have strong social supports around you.

Being able to offer emotional support is not something that everyone knows how to do. It’s a skill that takes practice. Some people may not be able to offer emotional support. If you have relatives or friends who lack this skill, that doesn’t mean they don’t love you. Most likely they don’t understand or fear they may say the wrong thing.

Remember that some conditions may cause you to not want to reach out for help. Sometimes the help from others is exactly what is needed to move toward recovery.

What to talk about
You can get the best support possible by planning the conversation. Consider including three items:

• “Process” talk
• Specific problem
• Suggestions for how loved ones can help

“Process” talk means “talking about talking,” rather than talking to share information. Prepare your listener for an important conversation by using “process” talk. Here are some ways to begin a process talk:

• “I want to talk to you about something important. I’m not sure how to talk about it, though. Can you just listen to me and try to understand? I’m hoping I’ll feel better after talking about it with someone, but I need you to be patient.”
• “There’s something going on in my life that’s bothering me. I think I need to talk to someone about it. I feel embarrassed about it, though, so please don’t laugh it off or make a joke out of it.”
• “I’m not sure if this will make sense. I feel uncomfortable talking about it, but I want to tell someone.

Concrete examples of what you mean by “mental illness.” Every case of mental illness is different. To get the best support possible, share one or two examples of what’s causing you stress:

• “I think something’s wrong because I can’t sleep more than a couple hours at night. It’s hurting my work and I feel out of control.”
• “I’ve started skipping classes sometimes. I’m worried I’ll stop leaving the apartment if I don’t get help.”
• “The doctor said I have bipolar disorder. Sometimes I feel like things are getting out of control and I’m not sure how to keep myself together.”

Suggest ways to support you. Family and friends may not know what they can do to help. You can get the best support by asking for specific types of help:

• “I’m scared to make an appointment because that’s like admitting there’s something wrong. But I need to see a doctor. Can you help me find one and follow through?”
• “I’m not thinking clearly these days. I’m getting treatment for a mental illness, but it might take a while to feel right. Until then, when I do something that makes you uncomfortable, can you please tell me what I’m doing instead of getting freaked out?”
• “I’m not supposed to drink alcohol with my medications. I’m going to try not to drink at parties, but I need my close friends to encourage me and help me keep my social life.”
• “I’m feeling better. But once in a while, can you tell me you’re there for me and give me a hug?”
• By telling the right people and suggesting ways for loved ones to help, you can start building a strong social support network. At first, you might be afraid to talk about your experiences. But don’t give up looking for support and encouragement from others. You’ll discover that many people want to help you.

You don’t have to share everything. Decide in advance what parts of your experience you’ll talk about and what parts you won’t. Stand by your decision. It’s perfectly understandable to answer a question with a statement like “I’d rather not talk about that right now.”

Keep in mind
Share the good things. Explain how your illness has taught you new things, or about experiences you were able to have in spite or, or because of, your illness.

Set boundaries. Be clear with people about when you want their advice and when you just want them to listen. Also realize that people come with their own opinions, informed and otherwise, so be patient when explaining. If they try to discredit you, gently remind them that you are the one living with the illness, and you know yourself best.

Let them know how they can support you. Everyone has different needs, and different people respond in different ways. Think about your needs ahead of time, and about whether this person can support you, if there are resources that would help her or him understand what you’re going through, or if she or he says no. Some people may not be able to handle disclosure, so it may be difficult to expect support from them. There are many people who will probably feel honored that you shared this with them, and whom will be happy to do what they can.

Help is available. For additional information, visit MagellanHealth.com/MYMH
Source: NAMI

This document is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Magellan Health does not endorse other resources that may be mentioned here.

On the 10^th anniversary of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), the national voice for payers that manage behavioral health insurance benefits for over 175 million people, and its member companies today declared continued support for, and further commitment to, creating parity in behavioral health treatment and coverage.

While MHPAEA was signed into law on Oct. 3, 2008, ABHW and its member companies’ efforts to address mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) parity have a much longer history – decades. As an original member and Chair of the Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage (Fairness Coalition), we worked with a diverse coalition of stakeholders to win equitable coverage of MH/SUD treatment, and were an avid advocate and supporter of the final bill that became law.

Mental health and substance use disorder parity is a right. Everyone deserves access to equitable, affordable, medically appropriate, high quality mental health and addiction services and treatment. ABHW member companies have diligently worked to drive consistent interpretation and enforcement of MHPAEA across the United States. We will continue our efforts through:

• Improved access to behavioral health treatment, services, and providers;
• Behavioral health co-payments that align with medical visit co-pays;
• Elimination of arbitrary treatment limitations on the number of days of coverage for a condition, as well as financial limits on annual and lifetime dollar caps;
• Adjustments to prior authorization requirements for mental health and substance use disorder services so that they are comparable to medical benefits; and
• Integration of medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health benefits to increase consumer engagement and reduce overall medical costs.

While great strides have been achieved, we acknowledge that more can be done to ensure that mental health and addiction parity is being implemented in the manner in which it was intended.

• Accreditation – Currently there is no parity accreditation standard that would deem a health plan parity compliant. Recognition of such an accreditation by consumers, federal and state governments, employers, and providers would support consistency of interpretation and assessment of parity compliance.
• Best Practice Examples – Additional illustrations from the federal regulatory agencies of health plans that are implementing MHPAEA correctly or states that are accurately enforcing MHPAEA would be very helpful in advancing parity compliance. If regulating agencies release de-identified information related to non-compliance issues it would provide interested parties with a thorough picture of the regulator’s intent related to MHPAEA and would lead to improved compliance.
• Substance Use Disorder – Currently, there is not parity in the way health care professionals access SUD records. This puts SUD patients at greater risk and inhibits integrated care for these individuals. Since SUD patients and their records are siloed from the rest of medicine, many individuals are receiving substandard, uncoordinated care.

ABHW and its member companies are committed to the full implementation and enforcement of the parity law. We will continue our efforts to work with consumers, employers, health plans, state Medicaid agencies, regulators, legislators, providers, behavioral health interest groups, and others to further parity compliance, educate consumers about the law, and provide the tools and resources needed to make informed decisions.

Signed,

Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness

Aetna Behavioral Health

Anthem

Beacon Health Options

Centene Corporation

Cigna

Magellan Health

New Directions Behavioral Health

Optum

PerformCare
ABHW is the leading health plan association working to improve access and quality of care for mental health and substance use disorders. ABHW’s members include national and regional health plans who care for more than 175 million people. Together we work to reduce stigma and advance federal policy on mental health and addiction care. Member companies – Aetna Behavioral Health, Anthem, Beacon Health Options, Centene Corporation, Cigna, Magellan Health, New Directions Behavioral Health, Optum, and PerformCare.

Parity Progress

Ten years ago today, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was passed into law. This ground-breaking legislation required health plans to treat mental health and substance use conditions like physical medical conditions without treatment or financial limitations. For more than 40 years, Magellan has wholeheartedly supported and actively advocated for parity. Every day, we work together with our customers — health plans, employers, state Medicaid and military and government clients — to innovate new solutions on behalf of those we serve, which continues to advance the law and helps to reduce the stigma around mental health and substance use issues. At Magellan, mental health is fundamentally as important as physical wellness, but it’s just a start.

Beyond equal to individualized and integrated

While our country has made positive strides in parity, we know achieving a healthy, vibrant life is tied to many factors beyond parity – namely social determinants, such as housing, poverty, education and access to transportation and healthy food. One way we are addressing and accounting for these social determinants is by focusing on providing individualized, integrated care.

Complete Care-Person-centered. Community-focused. Evidence-based.

A great example is Magellan Complete Care, which operates person-centered health plans that provide complete care coordination for recipients in Medicare and Medicaid. In the state of Florida, we developed the first-in-the-nation Medicaid specialty health plan to integrate physical and behavioral healthcare and address the social determinants of health for individuals living with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. In Arizona, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia, our Medicaid health plans integrate the full continuum of healthcare services – including mental health and substance use disorder services and treatments individualized to help each member live their healthiest, most vibrant life.

Integrated Health Neighborhoods

Magellan Complete Care plan participants include many individuals who contend with complex conditions that impact their physical health and mental well-being every single day. These individuals need to stay connected to their families, friends, neighbors and others in their communities to maintain independence and achieve optimal health and well-being. Doing so makes the difference between surviving and thriving. To these ends, we have pioneered a care coordination model called the Integrated Health Neighborhood (SM).

This model challenges the definition of what you might think a traditional health plan does for its members. Instead of just focusing on physical and behavioral health treatment, Integrated Health Neighborhoods work within existing community support agencies and local public health systems to strengthen and extend their reach. Our local teams help each member navigate these systems and supports based on their needs as well as their preferences for connecting in their own communities. This helps minimize member disruption through the use of familiar local provider networks and support from trusted community organizations.

Our Integrated Health Network teams are comprised of Magellan associates who live in the same communities as the members they serve. Our assigned teams personally know people at agencies, organizations and local resources across their neighborhood, whom they can call on, person to person, to find the right resources for each member. They work collaboratively to help each individual member find his/her path to independence and well-being.

Recovery Support Navigators

A unique part of the team are the Recovery Support Navigators. These are certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences with some of the same challenges our members face – they have experienced substance use disorders or psychiatric disabilities and may have personally been homeless, had their utilities turned off or experienced food insecurity. They can relate to the members they support, empathize, and then draw on real-world solutions to help them.

For the past 20 years, Magellan has been a leader in increasing access to peer support through partnerships with the recovery community and providers.  We have assisted state customers in developing robust certified peer specialist capabilities, driven in large part by our depth and breadth of experience.   We create shared learning opportunities for the peer workforce and others to improve and enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of the peer workforce across the continuum.  Our Recovery Support Navigators represent our best practice approach to tapping the power and potential of peer support.

We know people are more than just a diagnosis – or multiple diagnoses. Truly living healthy, vibrant lives means seeing more than parity for the pieces. It’s seeing and caring for the whole person and bringing together the right resources across the community to help. Integration and individualization are the next steps, and I am proud to say Magellan is out front and on the ground in neighborhoods around the country, taking these steps with our partners and members – together!

If you have, or believe you may have, a mental health problem, it can be helpful to talk about it with others. It can be scary to reach out for help, but it’s often the first step to helping you heal, grow, and recover.

Build your support system
Find someone—such as a parent, family member, teacher, faith leader, coworker or healthcare provider who:

• Gives good advice when you want and ask for it
• Assists you in taking action that will help and doesn’t escalate bad feelings
• Likes, respects and trusts you, and who you like, respect and trust, too
• Allows you the space to change, grow, make decisions, and even make mistakes
• Listens to you and shares with you, both the good and bad times
• Respects your need for confidentiality so you can tell him or her anything
• Lets you freely express your feelings and emotions without judging, teasing, or criticizing
• Works with you to figure out what to do the next time a difficult situation comes up
• Has your best interest in mind

Find a peer group
Find a group of people with mental health problems similar to yours who are taking care of the problems in a positive way. Peer support relationships can positively affect individual recovery because:

• People who have common life experiences have a unique ability to help each other based on a shared history and a deep understanding that may go beyond what exists in other relationships
• People offer their experiences, strengths, and hopes to peers, which allows for natural evolution of personal growth, wellness promotion, and recovery
• Peers can be very supportive since they have “been there” and serve as living examples that individuals can and do recover from mental health problems
• Peers also serve as advocates and support others who may experience discrimination and prejudice

You may want to start or join a self-help or peer support group. National organizations across the country have peer support networks and peer advocates. Find an organization that can help you connect with peer groups and other peer support.

Participate in your treatment decisions
It’s also important for you to be educated, informed, and engaged about your own mental health. Get involved in your treatment through shared decision making. Participate fully with your mental health provider and make informed treatment decisions together includes:

• Recognizing a decision needs to be made
• Identifying partners in the process as equals
• Stating options as equal
• Exploring understanding and expectations
• Identifying preferences
• Negotiating options/concordance
• Sharing decisions
• Arranging follow-up to evaluate decision-making outcomes

Develop a recovery plan
Recovery is a process of change where individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Studies show that most people with mental health problems get better, and many recover completely.

You may want to develop a written recovery plan. Recovery plans:

• Enable you to identify goals for achieving wellness
• Specify what you can do to reach those goals
• Can be daily activities as well as longer term goals
• Track your mental health problem
• Identify triggers or other stressful events that can make you feel worse, and help you learn how to manage them

Help is available. For additional information, visit MagellanHealth.com/MYMH

Source: MentalHealth.gov

This blog post is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Should you require specific help or feel that you are in crisis, you should seek the assistance of an appropriately trained professional.

If you have family, friends or colleagues who live with mental illnesses, you may be unsure of how to speak to them in a respectful way. You want to show you care, but don’t know how to express your concern and not hurt the person at the same time.

Just ask…

1. Can you help me understand what it’s like living with your condition?
2. Is there anything you need from me or something I can do to help you?
3. Can we do something together – get coffee, go for a walk or see a movie?
   Just because the person has mental illness doesn’t mean he/she won’t want to do regular activities
4. What is your diagnosis and how do you feel about it?
5. Do you need to talk?
   Sometimes talking can help make things feel a little better.
6.  What can I do to be there for you, and help you feel supported?
7. How can I support you – can I listen to you, leave you alone, give you a hug?
8.  How has living with this condition shaped who you are today?
9. How are you? You don’t seem like yourself, and I want to know how you’re really feeling because I care about you.

Find Help and More Information Regarding Mental Illness

Help is available. For additional information, visit MagellanHealth.com/MYMH.

For more information on treatment resources, contact:
National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
http://www.nami.org/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/https://www.mentalhealth.gov/

Mental Health.gov
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/
Help is available. For additional information, visit MagellanHealth.com/MYMH

Read more about Mental Illness from Magellan Health Insights