[sideblinded]

...Mental Health care where I live is awful. I live on the edge of the Mississippi River in a medium size town. I am not being managed well by my pdoc and the practice serves people who are low income like me. This being said I should be happy that they pick up my insurance copayment but it comes at a high price. My overall well being is really poor because my pdoc just doesn't care. They are over worked and serve too many people to give a f***.

Although I understand burnout, I am considering moving to the next state over just to get better mental healthcare as that state has a better program and more providers.

Would you move to another state to get better mental health? Am I crazy?

MDD
GAD

Mirtazapine 15 mg
Abilify 2 mg
Clonazepam 1mg
Gabapentin 2700 mg

[geis]

I moved 1000 miles away to spend two years at a residential treatment program, so I don't think it's unreasonable to move to be able to access better services. I know the Southeast has pretty lousy services in general. (I moved from Alabama to Massachusetts, so I've had person experience.)

Just bear in mind that you'll be leaving any support you have established at home if you move. Even if you're not getting adequate professional support, it can sometimes be hard to leave a network or supportive friends or family, if you have those. Establishing an informal support network is an ongoing struggle for me, and it's been six years since my move. Just be sure you go into it with your eyes open. Starting over is hard, but it can also be lifesaving.

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by geis

I moved 1000 miles away to spend two years at a residential treatment program, so I don't think it's unreasonable to move to be able to access better services. I know the Southeast has pretty lousy services in general. (I moved from Alabama to Massachusetts, so I've had person experience.)

Just bear in mind that you'll be leaving any support you have established at home if you move. Even if you're not getting adequate professional support, it can sometimes be hard to leave a network or supportive friends or family, if you have those. Establishing an informal support network is an ongoing struggle for me, and it's been six years since my move. Just be sure you go into it with your eyes open. Starting over is hard, but it can also be lifesaving.

Wow, sorry to hear that you had to go through all of that. Glad you are ok.

Here is why it is so doable. I am only thinking of moving 8 miles across the river. I already live right on the border. There would be support groups on the other side and plenty to do as well. I have not decided yet, though. I would still be fairly close to my friends. Just a river between us.

[geis]

That sound completely reasonable to me. If it's an 8-mile move, you wouldn't even lose whatever social supports you already have in place, and it doesn't sound like it would be a massive adjustment for you.

[shezbut]

(((SideBlinded)))

You ask a perfectly fair, but such a sad Q. Is it really necessary for a person to have to change states to receive better quality healthcare? Theorhetically, we're in the U.S., and the level of healthcare should remain the same level (with maybe mild fluctuations) throughout. Sadly, it just doesn't work that way. Even when we live on the border.

I moved to Rochester, Mn. over 6 years ago. Things didn't change within days or weeks though. It took 3 months for our new county of residence to recognize me as a resident and offer assistance. I had only moved from 2 counties over, but that didn't matter. The person that I spoke with on the phone said that it was their policy...I had to wait to get assistance. That really sucked!

If you don't have to wait, go for it. But, I just thought that I'd better mention that possibility, to be on the safe side. It's best to know all possibilities, imo, before making a major decision to be sure that you're prepared to deal with necessary changes.

Very best wishes to you ~ take care!

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by shezbut

(((SideBlinded)))

You ask a perfectly fair, but such a sad Q. Is it really necessary for a person to have to change states to receive better quality healthcare? Theorhetically, we're in the U.S., and the level of healthcare should remain the same level (with maybe mild fluctuations) throughout. Sadly, it just doesn't work that way. Even when we live on the border.

I moved to Rochester, Mn. over 6 years ago. Things didn't change within days or weeks though. It took 3 months for our new county of residence to recognize me as a resident and offer assistance. I had only moved from 2 counties over, but that didn't matter. The person that I spoke with on the phone said that it was their policy...I had to wait to get assistance. That really sucked!

If you don't have to wait, go for it. But, I just thought that I'd better mention that possibility, to be on the safe side. It's best to know all possibilities, imo, before making a major decision to be sure that you're prepared to deal with necessary changes.

Very best wishes to you ~ take care!

Yes you make some very good points. It is very true that healthcare in the US is not always so good at giving people the same helpful experience. There is still so much stigma concerning mental healthcare not just from the uneducated but also from the professional community. I still don't think that mental health is equal to medical health. The parity law that stated that mental health should be treated the same as medical health is not up to speed. All of it is about money or there lack of.... Some states are so taxed by clients that they are broke and others find some way to overcome this and offer a better chance of survival to include more services for the poor and mentally ill. It is a fact that low income and mental illness go hand in hand. It is a very sad situation.

Thank you for commenting.

[sideblinded]

On another note...

I have one more chance to get a better pdoc on this side of the river. I have an intake appt set up in November so maybe I can stay in this state closer to my friends. I really need to leave my current pdoc.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

[geis]

Good luck! I hope it works out. You deserve to be able to access the help and support you need.

[i dont matter]

best wishes to you

[shabur]

This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to stay where you are and still use the services of the other state?

[cool09]

I lived in NM for four years and health care was atrocious. First, there are only a handful of psychiatrists in NM. A worker who did my intake asked me mental health questions on a PC while he ate potato chips then the computer categorized me and spit out the results. I'm from the Philly suburbs and a city is the only place to find psychiatrists who have a decent chance of helping you.

[geis]

Originally Posted by shabur

This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to stay where you are and still use the services of the other state?

Not if they're public health services--has to do with funding. Ditto for using Medicaid out of state.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by sideblinded

Wow, sorry to hear that you had to go through all of that. Glad you are ok.

Here is why it is so doable. I am only thinking of moving 8 miles across the river. I already live right on the border. There would be support groups on the other side and plenty to do as well. I have not decided yet, though. I would still be fairly close to my friends. Just a river between us.

I moved counties (30 miles) and wow, what a difference in the state-funded mental health it made. night and day! I did not move intentionally - it was a collateral benefit that the improvement was soooo dramatic.

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by shabur

This may be a stupid question, but is it possible to stay where you are and still use the services of the other state?

No questions are stupid to me. It is a fair question. Here is the kicker. In my state some providers take the (next state over's) Medicaid but over there they won't take this state's Medicaid because here it is too poor of a state. So I would have to reside in the next state. It makes sense as I would be putting back into their economy. So the answer is "no" as far as Medicaid. I am not sure if some doctors are set up to accept patients out of state as far as insurance.

Thanks for asking.

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

I moved counties (30 miles) and wow, what a difference in the state-funded mental health it made. night and day! I did not move intentionally - it was a collateral benefit that the improvement was soooo dramatic.

I am so glad that a physical move did so much for you! I am leaning on staying where I am, though. I have one more try to find a new pdoc here.

[Junerain]

Do whatever you can to take care of yourself

[sideblinded]

Originally Posted by Junerain

Do whatever you can to take care of yourself

Good advice as I couldn't agree more. That goes for all of us!