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A video report: Mike
Wallace describes how patient advocacy group offers
concrete measures to help America overcome devastating
illness caused by depression and bipolar disease
February 2006 (Medialink) -- Released by the Depression
and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), The State of
Depression in America is a first-of-its-kind,
comprehensive analysis on depression. The report
indicates that in the U.S., depression is the leading
cause of both disability and suicide. Plus, people who
suffer from depression are at a greater risk of heart
disease. In addition to the physical and mental effects
depression can have on a person, the economic burden of
depression in the U.S. is estimated at $83.1 billion
annually.
With depression as widespread a problem as it is, the
DBSA report goes on to make a number of recommendations
to improve the mental health care system and access to
care, but makes an urgent call to action on five key
steps:
* Congress must equalize Medicare reimbursement coverage
to patients for mental health care services
* Private insurers must provide greater incentives for
primary care physicians (PCPs) to identify and treat
depression
* The government and private sector must enact loan
forgiveness programs to provide incentives for students
to specialize in mental health care
* Academic and private researchers must expedite
biologic and genetic research to develop better
treatments
* The government and private sector must support and
promote increased access to peer support services
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is
the leading patient-directed national organization
focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses. The
State of Depression in America report was supported by
an unrestricted educational grant from Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals. For more information call (800)
826-3632 or visit
www.DBSAlliance.org