| Greetings!
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) issued a national report card this week that gives Indiana a D grade for its public mental health care system.
The report is a follow-up to a NAMI report published three years ago measuring the progress of states in
achieving the goals of a presidential commission calling for transformation of the mental health care system - which too often is fragmented, outmoded and inadequate. In the previous report, Indiana received a grade of D. This year it is one of 23 states that saw no change.
The national average is D, remaining stagnant over the past three years. Six states received B's. Eighteen received C's and six received F's. No state got an A.
CLICK HERE for the full report.
"It's disappointing that the state's grade has not changed", says Teresa Hatten, President of the NAMI Indiana board of directors. "But we are hopeful that new initiatives now underway in Indiana governmental agencies will lead to improvements in Indiana's future grades."
Pam McConey, Executive Director of NAMI Indiana reminds Hoosiers, "The long-term financial and social costs to Indiana taxpayers are actually lower when mental health services are properly funded and
supported. Recovery from mental illness is now a reality for most individuals if they have access to proper treatment."
NAMI Indiana recommends five policy changes to transform the mental health care system:
1. Increase public funding for mental health care services
2. Improve data collection, outcomes measurement and accountability
3. Integrate physical and mental health care
4. Promote recovery and respect
5. Increase services for people with serious mental illness who are most at risk
The report card is based on 65 criteria including access to medication, housing, family education and support to National Guard members. It includes policy recommendations for federal and state leaders. State governments provided most of the information on which the grades are based. |
