CHA News

Hospital Executive Helps Break Stigma of Mental Illness

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In an effort to combat the stigma associated with mental illness, Mitch Gluck, assistant hospital administrator at San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital, shared his and his family’s personal experience with Our Health California, a digital community focused on health care.

Helping those with mental illness is more than Gluck’s career. For more than 20 years, his family struggled to obtain care for his brother, Dennis, who suffers from schizophrenia. Gluck highlights common obstacles for families in this situation: the overwhelming challenge of accessing a maze of resources, the lack of adequate care available in certain communities, and the mental illness stigma that can prevent families from seeking help.

Though Gluck’s experience ended in tragedy — in 2009, his brother attacked and killed his mother and father — he hopes that telling his story will help end the stigma around mental illness and encourage others to seek the care they need.

Our Health California is a 1 million-member community CHA developed to advocate on hospitals’ behalf for programs that improve health care across the state. To contribute stories, contact Lauren Wesche, digital advocacy manager, at lwesche@calhospital.org or (916) 552-7569.