Mental Health Matters: 5 Mental Health Based Laws and Resources in the US and Florida

Mental health is not often talked about and for many years was a taboo subject in the household. In recent years, younger generations have helped to bring light to the struggles of mental illnesses and worked towards ensuring accommodations and awareness for them. In honor of May being mental Health Awareness Month, we will be discussing 5 ways the United States, and the state of Florida protects and/or acknowledges mental health. 

1. Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act 

   1. This act was put in place to ensure that health insurance plans that provide mental health or substance use disorder benefits, have equal limitations as the medical/surgical benefits.

   2. This way, those who are in a health insurance plan that falls under the MHPAEA, have equal access to psychiatric/rehabilitation attention as they would for other medical needs.

2. Medicaid's Mental Health Benefits

   1.  Medicaid has programs such as the Veterans Affairs Department and Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP), known for helping to assign caseworkers to minors in need of them,  that provide medical insurance to low income individuals for little to no cost.

   2. Medicaid provides coverage for therapy, as well as inpatient treatment centers. This way, even those who don't have the money to pay an expensive insurance premium, still have access to some help. 

3. The Baker Act (Florida)

   1.  The Baker Act allows for involuntary hold and psychiatric evaluation lasting up to 72 hours. The Act outlines the qualifications for an involuntary hold to ensure that people are not wrongfully admitted.

   2. It also states that people with mental illnesses are equally entitled to rights of privacy and safety as one without mental illnesses. 

4. HIPAA

   1. HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; it is the act that discloses doctor-patient confidentiality. 

   2. Therapists fall under the HIPAA regulation of confidentiality. Your therapist cannot disclose any information about you or what you discuss in a counseling session to any third party.

   3. Exceptions: 

      1. You pose as a threat to yourself or others

      2. You are a minor (varies by state)

      3. Other exceptions varying by state

5. Access to Resources (Florida)

   1. On www.floridahealth.gov people can find lists of resources for those with different mental disorders. These links provide access to support groups for both those struggling with mental illnesses and their families. 

   2. These include but are not limited to Mental Health America and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

There is still a long way to go in raising awareness for mental illnesses and the effects of it on individuals and their families, but some laws, acts, and resources such as these are one step closer to the goal, providing a safe space and support for all. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month, and don't forget to reach out to trusted adults and/or peers if you are ever struggling!