Congress was prepared to vote on two pieces of mental health legislation Wednesday, though concerned interest groups say that patient care is at stake.

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery supports Senate Bill 2680, but voiced complaints over House Bill 2646.HR 2646 calls for the appointment of an assistant secretary with a medical or physician's doctorate for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal body that focuses on mental health recovery. The substance abuse agency argues that the position disempowers the agency.A local administrator says the bill needs better insight of mental illness and spending money more effectively for treatment.On the local level"SAMHSA is an excellent organization that seems to be run pretty efficiently. They are a "go-to" for information and resources on behavioral health," said Tina L. Clymer, administrator of Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services."I am not sure how a change in structure would impact treatment for those with mental health issues, but adding another level of oversight does not seem to add much value to the system. That money could be better spent in addressing treatment access and prevention."The Senate bill acknowledges recovery and proactive treatment measures more often, making it preferential to many in the mental health field.Clymer is wary to apply court-ordered treatment, opting instead for a more recovery-based plan."It is our experience that when some individuals experience a high level of symptomology related to illnesses such as schizophrenia, their judgment becomes clouded. This may interfere with treatment decisions that they make," Clymer said."There are ways to prepare for this, such as Mental Health Advanced Directives and Wellness Recovery Action Plans. These can be effective tools that could be used in place of court-ordered treatment for many people. Court-ordered treatment should only be used as a last resort."Funding cuts for community-based care have made it even harder to take preventive action, leading to hospitals as a last resort."The problem with this type of approach is that it is not recovery-oriented, it is difficult to enforce, and requires additional court procedures to enforce it," Clymer said. "So it is taking financial resources and staff time away from an already underfunded system. These funds could be better utilized on prevention and treatment."Reforming the systemThe key to reforming the system is bringing mental health patients on board to help with policy decisions. HR 2646 puts in two spots for representatives who have personally experienced mental health issues on an advisory committee, but NCMHR executive director Val Marsh argues this is not enough.Clymer also sees the benefit of more representation for those who are afflicted with mental illness."Those who have firsthand experience with services and systems give us a great deal of insight into what happens for a person with an illness," Clymer said. "Input from individuals who have used services have helped us develop some of the most effective services that we have, such as crisis residence, peer support and psych rehab."Efforts such as these could help to lessen the stigmas attached to those with mental illness.In her article, Marsh said that HR 2646 comes off as a reaction to the Sandy Hook shootings, attaching an element of misunderstanding and fear to the concept of mental illness. Marsh, Clymer and others in the mental health field argue that education, understanding and access to physicians for preventive treatment are the key to helping those in need."In order to truly reform the behavioral health system, there needs to be a strong focus on promoting mental wellness," Clymer said. "Teaching people from a very young age coping skills and frustration tolerance as well as boosting supportive factors and reducing stressors. Behavioral health awareness, prevention, early intervention and access to treatment are, in my opinion, where resources need to be focused."