Birmingham Group Health Services Wednesday officially unveiled a program that brings health care directly to people with severe mental health issues.
In 2009, CommuniCare — a partnership between Birmingham, Harbor Health Services, Inc. of Branford and Bridges, Inc. of Milford — received a $2 million federal grant that establishes a number of medical exam rooms in social service agencies that help people with mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
Two new exam rooms are in the Birmingham Group’s headquarters in Ansonia on East Main Street.
According to data from the National Institute of Health, people with severe mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are dying 25 years earlier than the general population.
They also have higher rates of chronic disease, according to the data.
A major part of the problem — people with severe mental health issues either don’t seek help, or they can’t get the help they need.
Many primary care providers are no longer accepting patients on Medicaid, said Marilyn Cormack, president and chief executive officer of Birmingham Group Health Services.
The doctors who staff the new exam rooms are trained to help patients with mental health problems.
“The more accessible [health care] can be, the more we can encourage people to see a primary care physician and take care of their health needs,” Cormack said.
CommuniCare, Inc. was one of just 13 groups in the country to receive a grant.
CommuniCare has already begun providing primary care to 185 individuals, with a goal of 300 after a year, and more than 2,000 over the four years covered by the grant.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro helped cut the ribbon at a ceremony Wednesday morning in Ansonia. She was joined by employees of the three agencies and a slew of elected officials, including Ansonia Mayor James Della Volpe.
“It could not go to a more deserving recipient,” DeLauro said.
