Matters of Fact About Georgia’s Access to Mental Health Medications in Medicaid

• Nearly 500,000 of Georgia’s close to 8.2 million residents have a severe mental illness. (U.S. Census 2000; U.S. Center for Mental Health Services)
• In the year 2000, the estimated number of people age 18 or older with a serious mental disorder living in Georgia (excluding homeless people or people in institutions) was nearly 350,000 (SAMHSA National Mental Health Information Center)
• In the year 2000, the estimated number of children and adolescents with a serious mental disorder was 1,866,112, or nearly 80,000 thousand children in Georgia. An estimated 15.2 percent of those affected live in poverty. (SAMHSA National Mental Health Information Center) 
• In Georgia, 850 people die every year from suicide. Additionally, 17,000 Georgians end up in emergency centers for treatment of injuries due to attempted suicide. Nationally, suicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10-19 (Suicide Prevention in Georgia: Healing and Hope, the Carter Center, CDC: National Vital Statistics Report)
• Unlike the rest of healthcare, medications comprise only 3% of costs for mental illnesses—and some experts contend that they may be responsible for more than 50% of positive treatment outcomes. (M. Graham, "Restrictive Formularies," National Mental Health Association, Department of Healthcare Reform)