Behavioral Health

Behavioral health stands out as a compelling and immediate issue confronting communities that the IMAN serves, as well as the national health care and prisons systems.

The disproportionately high rate of mental disorders in prisons is related to several factors: the widespread misconception that all people with mental disorders are a danger to public; the general intolerance of society to difficult or disturbing behavior; the failure to promote treatment, care, and rehabilitation; and above all, the lack of access to mental health services. In short, our society would rather inhumanely imprison people with psychiatric illness than spend time and money to rehabilitate those who suffer from mental health issues.

Up to 28% of Americans have a diagnosable behavioral health condition, and few seek treatment. In the primary care setting such as IMAN Health Clinic, the majority of visits have a psychological basis. Health centers, as primary care providers to 15 million medically underserved individuals, are critically important sources of behavioral health services. With budgetary cuts leading to closure of mental health facilities in our area, the need for mental health services escalated and contributed to the increase in violence in schools and communities, along with gun shootings. 

Behavioral problems in schools conjoined with unstable family structures create a vicious cycle of unaddressed emotional issues, for both the future and present generations.  Violence is a symbol of the human outcry that all hope has been lost

To address these issues, IMAN serves adults, adolescents and children with a wide range of behavioral health services.