2. Gulf Bend Center
• 2013 marks 43 years of continuous service to our
communities. The Center was created under the
Texas Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of
1965 which established a statewide system of locally
governed public community mental health and mental
retardation centers and codified in the Health & Safety
Code. The Center also has a 501(C)(3) tax exempt
status.
3. Our Mission
• To improve the quality life of persons and their
families affected by mental illness and/or
intellectual and developmental disorders.
– Mental Health Safety Net; crisis services, indigent care
– Community Based Mental Health; case management, skills
training, psychiatric, counseling, medication, housing,
employment, benefit assistance
– IDD; Intermediate Care Facilities, Home and Community
Based Services, case management, habilitation, employment
– Community Support; critical incident response/debriefing,
Mental Health First Aide, Out reach and education, hospitals,
law enforcement
4. The Facts
• According to the National Council for Community Behavioral
Health, “People living with serious mental illnesses are
dying 25 years earlier than the rest of the population, in
large part due to unmanaged physical health conditions.”
(April 2009) Co-occurring mental and physical health
issues are common in the general population but are
significant for persons with serious mental illness.
• Data shows, on average more than 68% of adults with a
mental disorder had at least one medical condition, and
29% of those with a medical disorder also had a mental
health condition. People with schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder are up to three times more likely to have three or
more chronic conditions compared to people without these
disorders.
5. The Facts
• Approximately 1/3 of adults and 2/3 of children
with SMI/SED receive no services at all.
• Approximately 2/3 of others with mental health
conditions receive no care at all.
• Public mental health clients die about 25 years
younger than other Americans.
• An estimated 60-80% of these deaths are due
to treatable chronic diseases.
• An estimated 20-40% are due directly to
mental illness.
7. Population Served and Funding Source
• Department of State Health Services
– Adult MH funded target = 608 per month
• Actual Served = 900
• 50% Medicaid : 50% Indigent
– Child/Adolescent target = 125
• Actual Served = 185
• 95% Medicaid : 5% indigent
• Leveraging funding critical for expanding
capacity for the SPMI
8. The Facts of Mental Health Care
• Root causes of premature death:
– Lack of basic primary health care
– Metabolic effects of psychotropic
medications
– Lifestyle factors
• substance abuse, homelessness, nutrition,
exercise, social belonging
9. Nutrition and Mental Health
• People easily understand the connection between nutritional
deficiencies and physical illness.
• Depression is more typically thought of as strictly biochemical-
based or emotionally-rooted. On the contrary, nutrition can play a
key role in the onset as well as severity and duration of
depression.
• Many of the easily noticeable food patterns that precede
depression are the same as those that occur during depression.
These may include poor appetite, skipping meals, and a dominant
desire for sweet foods
• A balanced mood and feelings of wellbeing can be protected by
ensuring that our diet provides adequate amounts of complex
carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals
and water.
10. Solutions require a Paradigm Shift
• Today…Silo Care…
• Our vision: Integrated, Whole Person,
Care
– The Fundamental Tenants
• Provision of primary care is essential
• Provision of mental health care is essential
• Facilitation of WELLNESS model is essential
– “We must move to the left of the treatment
continuum…we must address behavior.” (Dr. Ron
Manderschied.
12. The Center Piece:
The Wellness Community
• The Wellness Community Bridges the
Gaps by Offering Safe, Healthy, and
Socially Interactive Living Situation…The
Outcome; Healthy People…Healthy
Community
• The Wellness Community
