Steep Cuts in State Funding Will Hurt Mentally Ill People

Between 2009 and 2011, more than $1.6 billion was cut from state funds for mental health services, says the National Alliance on Mental Illness in a report released today. These cuts led to significant reductions in both hospital and community services for vulnerable individuals with serious mental illness. The data in the report are limited to general fund appropriations for state mental health agencies and does not include mental health funds under the control of other state agencies such as state Medicaid agencies, housing authorities, or child and family authorities. The NAMI report follows and expands upon a similar one it issued by in March. For more information, see Psychiatric News.

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