Policy Issue: Caring for the Mentally IllThe healthcare system, as a whole, faces many challenges when it comes to caring for vulnerable populations. This population includes people suffering from mental illness. More than 450 million people suffer from mental health problems (WHO, 2010). Mental health and suicide prevention should become national priorities. Due to the lack of resources and public knowledge about this population, health care providers are faced with the difficult task of educating the public about the importance of “mental health to overall health.” Public attitudes and stigma associated with mental illness pose a major barrier to treatment. People suffering from mental illness are deprived of the treatment and support they need due to low self-esteem and a sense of hopelessness stemming from public stigma. Poor mental health is associated with exclusion from social groups, difficult work environments, unhealthy lifestyles, risks of violence and poor physical health, as well as human rights violations. man (WHO, 2010). Access to quality care is lacking, as well as early mental health screenings and referrals, which should become standard practice. More research in this area is essential, as is improving the quality of mental health care. Background SOCIAL FACTORS People living with serious mental illness represented 9.8 million adults in 2008. Of these, 58.7 percent used mental health services, 40.5 percent received outpatient care. services, and just over seven percent received inpatient services for a mental health problem (Center for Addiction and Mental Health Treatment, 2009). Globally, there is a chance that one in four people will experience some sort of mental healing... middle of paper ...... with flight mental illness high, the need for care increases. Access to adequate care is an issue for people in need of mental health services. Lack of or delay in treatment has led to a large number of suicides. The high cost of covering mental illness was a problem until the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act. Other bills and policies have been proposed to help people with mental illness get the care they deserve. The goal is to reduce the stigma of seeking treatment for mental health disorders, promote health among the younger population through expanded school programs, treat mental health with the same respect as physical health and to conduct early detection of mental health and substance abuse disorders. abuse. People suffering from mental health problems deserve access to quality care. After all, there is no overall health without mental health.