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The 49-year-old La Crosse woman knew she had a drinking problem but didn’t realize she also had a mental illness. She became sober more than 91/2 years ago, but the depression and anxiety didn’t go away.
Now Knutson is on medication and has gone through therapy.
“It’s a daily struggle, and some days are bad,” Knutson said. “We don’t look at mental illness as a serious thing. We’re told by others to get over it. But we need to stop minimizing depression and mental illness.”
Knutson said she is thankful for community resources such as the La Crosse County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and mental health drop-in centers such as Partners in Empowerment.
“They have helped me understand my mental illness and that I’m not a bad person after all,” Knutson said. “They stand up for my rights, and I’ve learned not to be afraid or ashamed and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Knutson said she would like to see better health insurance coverage for those with mental illness.
Mark Taylor, a Gundersen Lutheran psychotherapist, said the mental health insurance system is broken and needs repair.
“What if we told people with diabetes we would cover only half of their treatment?” Taylor said. “People would not stand for that. But that’s exactly what happens with mental health treatment. We need universal health care.
“A healthy society in a democracy doesn’t come cheap,” he said.
“We’re especially failing our kids with mental health problems.”
Taylor said full mental health insurance coverage could provide better and more in-patient care, especially for adolescents. “They can’t be treated like mini adults,” he said.
The La Crosse County Human Services Department does a good job of dividing its limited mental health resources, Taylor said.
Bob Hillory, director of Franciscan Skemp’s Behavioral Health, said the stigma of mental illness still is a deterrent to people seeking help.
The stigma affects people’s view that mental illness is not a disease, and that’s why mental health doesn’t receive the insurance coverage as other diseases.
“People don’t want to pay for the cost, but if we can treat mental health problems appropriately and early, we will save medical costs in the end,” Hillory said. “But I don’t see parity until we get rid of the stigma.”
La Crosse County has been a leader in providing mental health services in the community, Hillory said, and the Mental Health Coalition of the Greater La Crosse Area, led by Margaret Larson, has had a major role in education and training as well.
The La Crosse County Mental Health Court exploration group is looking at improving how the justice system interacts with people with mental illness.
“We still need to provide alternatives to jail,” Hillory said. “Our jails are not treatment centers.”
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at (608) 791-8227 or trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com.
