In 1990 when GCB moved into its current 25,000 sq. ft. facility on E. McMillan Street in East Walnut Hills, it needed to provide a “safe haven” for hundreds of severely mentally ill people who would visit every day for treatment. The facility served its function well for many years. Now in 2009, GCB once again finds itself with a changing mental health environment that requires the integration of primary and mental health care.

People with serious mental illness, on average, die 25 years earlier than the general population. Recent studies show that the 1.7 million Americans who have a severe mental illness can expect to die before the age of 55. Over the past 25 years since the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, the number of mentally ill cared for in hospitals has shrunk by 90%. The number of mentally ill in jails and prisons or homeless on the street now far surpasses the numbers in hospitals.

Despite the fact that 80% of GCB clients have Medicaid or Medicare, lack of access to primary health care, and poor quality and coordination of care continue to be significant barriers to addressing this problem. The stigma of mental illness and difficulty treating medical and mental health problems simultaneously often lead to poor outcomes. The integration of behavioral healthcare and primary healthcare has been identified as the best practice for addressing this health crisis.

GCB has embarked upon a capital campaign to raise $1 million for the renovation of a five-story building at 1501 Madison Road in East Walnut Hills recently purchased by GCB. After renovation, GCB will have the agency’s headquarters, clinicians, treatment areas, pharmacy, and medical staff all at one location. Service delivery to our clients will be greatly enhanced. Operational savings alone will be in excess of $500,000 a year and it is anticipated that the patient load will be able to grow by 10% (400 new clients).

The challenges of meeting this goal are formidable, particularly given the state of the economy. Interestingly enough, the demand for GCB’s mental health services historically has increased in times of economic recession. If there was ever a time that we want to do more for our clients and do it more effectively, it is now.

Meeting our challenge is important to literally thousands of severely mentally ill Cincinnatians. Your financial commitment is much needed and will be greatly appreciated by a segment of our community who cannot always help themselves.

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