Responding to the growing trend of consumers hungry for mental health information and guidance, the federally run Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) launched its online National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) last year.
"More and more consumers are taking an active interest in their healthcare and mental health services are a big part of that [trend]," said Paolo del Vecchio, CMHS' consumer affairs specialist and project coordinator for KEN (http://www.mentalhealth.org).
Through KEN, surfers can link to 1,700 searchable databases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies, hundreds of mental health organizations, and view and order hundreds of free publications. For CMHS, the site is a tremendous vehicle for educating the public on treatment plans and mental health service systems, selecting providers and services. Since consumers can surf in their homes, their privacy is not compromised.
Generating about 32,000 hits a year, KEN's expansion is far from declining as it adds dozens of mental health links a month. "Web sites are a great way to overcome some of the negative stigmas associated with mental healthcare by promoting the realities of mental illness and mental health," said del Vecchio, pointing out that one in three people will suffer from a serious mental health problem in their lifetimes. (CMHS, 800/789-CMHS)