The Nation's Mental Health Crisis: Are Candidates Addressing the Facts?

ARLINGTON, VA, September 07, 2010 (Press-News.org) Everything from Medicaid to the nation's economic crisis to recovery from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico involves mental health. Unemployed individuals are four times more likely to report symptoms of mental illness.

State budget crises across the country have led to devastating cuts in mental health services, putting lives at risk. Congress bears some responsibility, having cut and then frozen mental health block grants over the past 10 years.

In 2009, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) issued the report, Grading the States, based on 65 criteria. The national average was D. In fact, 21 states received Ds and six received Fs.

Eighteen states received Cs. There were only six Bs, which themselves are in jeopardy. In times of crisis, states need to move forward, not retreat. State mental health care needs to be strengthened--not cut. See grades below.

We need governors and legislators who are willing to invest in change. The alternative is too many people living with mental illness who end up hospitalized, on the street, in jail or dead.

Please ask candidates what they propose to do about the mental health crisis. NAMI is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates. As the fall campaigns continue, we will be sharing more facts.

F STATES:
Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming

D STATES:
Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah.

C STATES:
Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

B STATES:
Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma

About NAMI

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1100 state and local affiliates that engage in research, education, support and advocacy.

NAMI is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates.

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