Grading the States 2009 - A Report on America's Health Care System for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has just released its latest report card "Grading the States 2009 - A Report on America's Health Care System for Adults with Serious Mental Illness".
The report shows that on average the nation's public mental health care system gets no better than a D. The new study is the first report card since an initial measurement in 2006. Fourteen states improved their grades from 2006 abd 12 states fell back.
New Hampshire improved its score from a D to a C.
“We applaud the progress from a D to a C,” said Mike Cohen, Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire. “But clearly there is still much work to be done. Unfortunately, state budgets cut threaten even this progress. The creation of a new Mental Health Caucus in the State House demonstrates the widespread interest in moving a mental health agenda forward and continuing to make progress.
Liz Merry, NAMI NH President says, “NH’s Department ofHealth and Human Services has invested a lot of energy into developing its 10 year plan to reform the mental health system which, if implemented, would improve our grade even more. Going into the next biennium budget cycle, the challenge will be to maintain the focus and investment on mental health care.”
“We need the legislature to do all it can to find new revenues to meet the needs of individuals who live with mental illnesses. A well-balanced budget should support the goals in the Department of Health & Human Services’ (DHHS) 10-year plan to transform our state mental health system,” stated Paul Gorman, board member of NAMI New Hampshire.
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.
Click here to see pages 114 and 115, New Hampshire's report card.
Click here to read access the entire report.