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R!1 FT <br />BACKGROUND <br />"Mental Health: It Affects All Ages," was the topic of the 2000 Human Services Advisory <br />Commission (HSAC) forum. Recent legislation at the statewide level brings this subject to the <br />forefront of local policymaking. As the forum title suggests, people need mental health <br />assistance across the spectrum of age, as well as across socioeconomic and cultural groups. <br />Family members, health professionals, and human services agencies also share significant <br />stakes in mental health planning. The Orange County Board of Commissioners benefits each <br />year from information and recommendations garnered from the HSAC forum. It also gives <br />concerned citizens, government officials, and agencies the opportunity to come together, <br />communicate, and work out solutions together. Attendees at the September 13, 2000 meeting <br />numbered close to 140. <br />OVERVIEW <br />HSAC co -chair Debbie Kinert convened the 11"' annual forum before turning the floor over to <br />Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs. He spoke about the period of transition North <br />Carolina is in, growing out of long struggles for equitable, adequate, appropriate, and affordable <br />treatment for those with mental health concerns. Jacobs said that North Carolina's funding <br />levels for community programs remain low, while it institutionalizes people at a rate higher than <br />40 other states. He also said that one -third of the nation's homeless have diagnosable mental <br />illness and that the N.C. Mental Health Association estimates that 30 to 35 thousand people <br />with mental illness are waiting for help from housing to vocational services to outpatient <br />therapy. Finally, Jacobs affirmed the County's goal to improve the mental health of its citizens <br />in the future. Steps already taken include funding for housing and information gathered in the <br />Master Aging Plan that addresses mental health issues for seniors in Orange County. <br />North Carolina State <br />,QUESTIONS POSED BY THE 2000 FORUM M <br />Representative Verla <br />What are the is surrounding, the mental health system? <br />sues s ? <br />g Y <br />Insko began the <br />♦ <br />What are the needs of persons with mental illness? <br />keynote address by <br />emphasizing how <br />What are the available resources?,: <br />long it had been <br />What are the gaps in service delivery? <br />since North Carolina <br />How do we better inform the public about existing services . <br />had looked at its <br />♦ <br />How can government and non - profits partner to improve access <br />mental health <br />to services and share resources for mental health? - <br />system — 30 years. <br />Despite an Increase <br />