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Georgia Gets D for Mental
Health Care
No Progress From Last Report Card; State Budget Cuts Threaten
Recovery
Atlanta, Georgia--The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
issued a national report card on march 11, 2009 that gives Georgia a
D grade for its public mental health care system.
The report is a follow-up to a NAMI report published three years ago
to measure the progress of states in achieving the goals of a
presidential commission that called for transformation of the mental
health care system—which too often is fragmented, outmoded and
inadequate.
In the previous report, Georgia received a grade of D. This year it
is one of 23 states that saw no change. The national average is D,
remaining stagnant from three years ago. Six states received Bs. Six
received Fs. No state got an A.
“It’s disappointing that the state’s grade has not changed,” said
Eric Spencer, Executive Director of NAMI Georgia. “We should be
moving forward in helping people to get the help they need. Instead,
we’re stagnating. State budget cuts also threaten to push us
backwards.”
“Imagine what Georgia could have achieved if Mental Health was
properly funded,” continued Spencer. “The Mental Health Division has
made some very innovative changes and has worked closely with
advocates in Georgia. We are poised to make great strides in
improving care, but only if the funding matches the vision. As of
now, the funding has decreased since the last report card, and the
population has increased. The results are no surprise.”
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.
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