The United States gets a D grade in helping adults with serious
mental illnesses. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
presents this first comprehensive state-by-state analysis
of mental health care systems in 15 years. Every U.S. state
has been scored on 39 specific criteria resulting in an overall
grade and four sub-category grades for each state.
The 230-page report, including individual state narratives
and scoring tables, is available online at www.nami.org/grades.
The report calls on states to make smarter investment choices
through proven, cost-effective practices, and to link taxpayer
funding to performance and individual outcomes.
Although Nebraska scraped by with an overall D grade, the
report is quick to show vast room for improvement. The infrastructure
within Nebraska was ranked with a D-, information access received
an F, services were given a D grade, and recovery supports
received the highest rating with a C-. Funding, provider shortages,
and diversionary programs were listed as the most urgent needs
facing the state.
Contact your state and national
representatives today to ensure that they read NAMI’s
Grading the States: A Report on America’s Mental Health
Care System for Serious Mental Illness and take leadership
in helping meet the challenges outlined in the report.
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