The report comes near the third anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released its third annual survey today on state mental health legislation, which found that the number of states to boost spending in this area has dropped each year since the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012.
That tragedy, carried out by a mentally ill young man, raised awareness of the need for better funding and care for those who suffer serious illness. And in 2013, 36 states elevated spending levels, followed by increases in 29 states in 2014. But just 23 increased spending in 2015, and 14 states and the District of Columbia cut them.
“The good news is that efforts to improve the lives of people affected by mental illness have continued in 2015,” said NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti. “Some states have enacted specific reforms that can serve as models for others. And Congress has slowly begun to move forward now with mental health reform legislation.”
However, Congress has taken its time getting to mental health care, and states like Ohio and Iowa have seen back-tracking of progress from prior years, the group found. For example, Iowa overhauled its mental health services in 2014 but has spent much of the past year mired in a debate over transitioning its entire Medicaid program to managed care.
What troubles NAMI most is that changes in mental health funding are always framed in the context of tragedy and violence, yet most people living with mental illness are not violent.
The stories of mental illness, Giliberti said, include those who end up on the streets, in jail, or in emergency rooms for lack of care. “They include young people whose symptoms aren’t recognized early enough to avoid the worst outcomes. They include deaths by suicide,” she said.
Among the findings in the NAMI report:
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
Read More
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Gene, Light Therapy Combo Shows Promise Against Prostate Cancer Cells in Proof-of-Concept Study
April 18th 2024In their preclinical model, the researchers found efficacy both in vitro and in vivo by using CRISPR-Cas9 to mimic porphyria and combining the technology with light therapy.
Read More
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen
Collecting SDOH Data Can Assess Risk of Medical Nonadherence, Improve HEI and Star Ratings
April 18th 2024At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting, a panel of presenters explored changes coming to Medicare that incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH) data to improve patient and health system outcomes.
Read More