Although unknown to many people, the bailout legislation recently pushed through Congress had a very special attachment. While not an absolute and final solution, after decades of advocacy, mental health services are approaching coverage similar to treatment for other health-related problems. For the first time, the law of the land provides de facto acknowledgement of the need to treat both the body and the mind, thus putting to rest the stigma associated with seeking help for psychological problems.

It is interesting to note that one of the greatest opponents to this historic change has been the business community, represented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In spite of the fact that "people problems" cost businesses billions, mental health benefits have been decried as wasteful, unnecessary and too costly. This has been bewildering and, frankly, infuriating.

Fears have been expressed about how mandating coverage of mental health services will escalate health care costs. This is pure ignorance that is perpetuated by simplistic actuarial data from the insurance industry. While there will be some short-term, direct-dollar increase in expenditures, there is substantial evidence that numerous lifelong benefits accrue when someone's psychological well-being is attended to in an effective manner.

No one is immune from the impact of psychological upheaval or the debilitating effects of substance abuse. You may want to believe that it will never impact you, your family, friends, coworkers or employees. You are wrong. When problems strike, there is desperation and, often, devastation in families and the workplace.

Who can focus on sales or contracts when anxiety, depression or substance abuse is wreaking havoc, when a marriage is falling apart or a child is scared because others at school have bullied him? What manager, regardless of experience or training, can maintain normalcy when an innocent sexual advance turns into assault, when an inmate stabs a corrections officer for no apparent reason or domestic violence escalates to the point that injuries could be fatal?

What handbook sets forth the proper course of action when someone is so debilitated by anxiety that he would rather be dead, when someone has run out of options to the point that he becomes destructive to himself and all around him, when you just don't know what to do about a parent with dementia or when world events result in loss of economic or social control?

These are the real-life problems that came to me just during the past week or so. These problems came from regular people, facing unexpected and, at times, overwhelming pressures -- regular people seeking answers ... needing to be heard.

These are human dilemmas that are not curable by a pill or the simple advice of a television personality. We must have compassion yet practicality. With the passage of this law, treatment effectiveness should be demonstrated. Perhaps now there will be an impetus for added resources, because we do not have what is necessary to provide the help that is really needed in this complicated world.

An adequate system may take years to develop, but good, comprehensive care for emotional disorders will be beneficial to businesses and society. The more we integrate behavioral and physical health treatment, the more effective the whole system will become. The return on investment will be substantial because in today's society we need everyone to function at his or her best. It would seem that taking good care of people is good for business. I cannot imagine why anyone should resist, and I hope that loopholes in the new law are not used as excuses for not caring. Even better, why should we need the law? Shouldn't we as a society just do what is right?

* * *

The United States, as a whole, seems to have begun to settle down after the election. Except for ongoing banal speculation spewed forth by the talking heads on cable TV, it seems that we are trying to hold onto hope. President-elect Obama has asked for our participation in solving the huge social and economic problems threatening our way of life.

In my lifetime, no politician has engendered the idolization that is seen in his dedicated followers. Those who may have voted for his opponent may do well to listen to his plea to give him a chance. We need to do something. We need to pull together. We need to participate.

My concern is that in West Virginia we did not evidence the depth of concern seen in other parts of the country, where there was record voter turnout. Fewer of us (63,000 less than in the election of 2004) in the Mountain State took part in the inalienable right to show the world that our freedom matters. I hope we do better in listening to the will of the people and take an active role to help our country regain its deserved prominence and have our state rise up to show what we can do.

David Clayman, Ph.D., is a clinical and forensic psychologist and managing partner of Clayman & Associates PLLC, Charleston. In addition to addressing various issues once a month, he will respond to specific questions regarding life-work balance, employee relations, inter-office issues and more. Please send your question to stateofmind@claymanassociates.com.