State Mental Health Cuts are a National Crisis- A NAMI press release

[Tobin S.]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Two thirds of states have cut mental health care in the last three years—even though need has increased because of the nation's economic distress and troops returning home from war, according to a report released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Eighteen states managed to increase mental health budgets during the same three years. For 12 of them, the increases totaled four percent or less.

"State mental health cuts are a national crisis," said NAMI Executive Director Michael J. Fitzpatrick. "Some states are trying to hold the line or make progress, but most are cutting deep. This stands in contrast to the intense national concern about the mental health care system following the Arizona tragedy two months ago."

State Lists and Data

The report can be downloaded at www.nami.org/budgetcuts. State-by-state tables appear in the appendices. A summary of decreases and increases appears below listing the total change in dollars, percentages and rank.

More at the link ---> http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=press_room&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=118247

[mdmc]

1. thanks for the info / links