Patt Chandler, a registered nurse at McLaren Regional Medical Center’s mental health unit, already understood the damaging effects that bi-polar disorder has on patients and their loved ones. Her experience helped her understand what was happening when her 25-year old daughter Abby began to spiral out of control. 

Abby was in nursing school last fall and was one of the top students in her class when mania debilitated her during a school clinical. She became confused and was unable to speak. Her doctor recommended she see a psychiatrist.

The next day, Chandler took Abby to the Genesee Health Plan, where an intake worker arranged psychiatric and therapeutic visits. When the prescribed medication wasn’t covered, the staff member intervened with the drug company and Abby was able to receive her medication at no cost. Abby has spent the last year active in her recovery and returned to her studies this fall, happy, healthy and self-confident.

“The Genesee Health Plan made a tragedy manageable,” Chandler said. “They were sensitive, caring and extremely responsive to our needs, and I am thrilled to report that Abby is in good health.”

Genesee County Community Mental Health provides a grant to GHP to address a major gap in mental health services in the area. GCCMH makes referrals to GHP for those with mild mental health issues not covered by Medicaid. GHP’s program served 660 people in 2007 and 779 in 2008. GHP anticipates providing services to more than 1,200 members in 2009. 

The strain of economic instability is responsible for the significant increase in the need for services, GCCMH CEO Danis Russell said.

“We see a proactive approach to mental health services as valuable, because when people get the help they need in the early stages of a mental health issue, it keeps them out of hospitals and from suffering from related medical conditions,” Russell said. “Early treatment is best and can help stop individuals from getting more disabled and things getting worse. The earlier they receive treatment, the better.”