Posted 5:57 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012
[caption id="attachment_9879" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Tara Delong, UW-L graduate student"]
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A UW-La Crosse student report could change the way people think about mental illness, improve treatment and help prevent it. Tara Delong, who is in UW-L's Master of Public Health in Community Health Education Program, recently published a report, “The Burden of Mental Illness: A Report on La Crosse and the Surrounding Region,” covering the costs and challenges the La Crosse area faces in tackling mental illness.
Delong’s interest in mental illness began when she saw its effects firsthand during her undergraduate and master’s studies.
“I have seen the impact of [mental] illness on individuals and families and wanted to contribute to advocacy for a significantly underrepresented group in our culture,” she explains.
Among her areas of research were the prevalence of mental illness, the stigma that surrounds it and how communities can increase awareness and prevention of mental illness. Because of this stigma, little research had been done on its impact on health care costs, she says. Mental illness is attributed to be the third highest cost in health care — with costs totaling over $52 million annually in the Coulee Region alone, according to her report.
Delong’s report also contains data that shows how common mental illnesses truly are. “Depression accounts for more hospital and clinic visits than any other condition in our region,” notes Delong.
She also explains changes that can and should be made to improve future mental health issues. Delong anticipates her report will offer clarity on mental health issues. She hopes it will lead to establishing short and long-term objectives to counter mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it.
“I envision a stronger presence in the community with programming to address stigma, specifically with prevention and early intervention in mind,” says Delong. She hopes the report will lead to collaboration with public health departments to address the issues and encourages improved data keeping.
The report will likely be used by many local groups, including The Mental Health Coalition of the Greater La Crosse Area. The La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium is also using the report in conjunction with its efforts to become the healthiest county in Wisconsin by 2015. Mental and physical health are closely related, so Delong’s findings will significantly help the Consortium’s efforts.
“Equally important is the education that this report provides,” says Delong. “It elevates the mental health needs and opportunities for our community and this momentum is important as a change agent.”
[/caption]
A UW-La Crosse student report could change the way people think about mental illness, improve treatment and help prevent it. Tara Delong, who is in UW-L's Master of Public Health in Community Health Education Program, recently published a report, “The Burden of Mental Illness: A Report on La Crosse and the Surrounding Region,” covering the costs and challenges the La Crosse area faces in tackling mental illness.
Delong’s interest in mental illness began when she saw its effects firsthand during her undergraduate and master’s studies.
“I have seen the impact of [mental] illness on individuals and families and wanted to contribute to advocacy for a significantly underrepresented group in our culture,” she explains.
Among her areas of research were the prevalence of mental illness, the stigma that surrounds it and how communities can increase awareness and prevention of mental illness. Because of this stigma, little research had been done on its impact on health care costs, she says. Mental illness is attributed to be the third highest cost in health care — with costs totaling over $52 million annually in the Coulee Region alone, according to her report.
Delong’s report also contains data that shows how common mental illnesses truly are. “Depression accounts for more hospital and clinic visits than any other condition in our region,” notes Delong.
She also explains changes that can and should be made to improve future mental health issues. Delong anticipates her report will offer clarity on mental health issues. She hopes it will lead to establishing short and long-term objectives to counter mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it.
“I envision a stronger presence in the community with programming to address stigma, specifically with prevention and early intervention in mind,” says Delong. She hopes the report will lead to collaboration with public health departments to address the issues and encourages improved data keeping.
The report will likely be used by many local groups, including The Mental Health Coalition of the Greater La Crosse Area. The La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium is also using the report in conjunction with its efforts to become the healthiest county in Wisconsin by 2015. Mental and physical health are closely related, so Delong’s findings will significantly help the Consortium’s efforts.
“Equally important is the education that this report provides,” says Delong. “It elevates the mental health needs and opportunities for our community and this momentum is important as a change agent.”