Not making the grade
The National Alliance on Mental Illness released its national report card today “on adult mental health care systems in the public sector in order to measure closely the continuing crisis in what President Bush’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health has labeled a ’system in shambles,’” the report says. (Bush should know something about systemic shambles.)
Overall, the U.S. gets a D for mental health care based on four elements: triple toe loop, spiral, footwork and lutzes. Oh, wait. I’ve been watching too much figure skating. The four elements, for real, are: infrastructure, services, information access and recovery supports.
Eight states received Fs; none received As.
Pennsylvania: D+
Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota: F
Connecticut, Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin: B
Get your state’s report card here. [NAMI]
•Grading the States 2006: Executive Summary [NAMI]
•Mentally ill’s needs unmet [Louisville, KY Courier-Journal]
•Failing grade for state on mental health [Chicago Tribune]
liz | 11:52 AM | Uncategorized
From President Bush’s speech of April 29, 2002 announcing the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health:
“Our country must make a commitment: Americans with mental illness deserve our understanding, and they deserve excellent care. (Applause.) They deserve a health care system that treats their illness with the same urgency as a physical illness. (Applause.)”
President Says U.S. Must Make Commitment to Mental Health Care
University of New Mexico
Continuing Education Conference Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/20020429-1.html
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