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Melissa Tolley
Professor Dursema
English 1010
27 November 2015
Many first symptoms of mental illness are often recognized when the individual is a child
or young adult. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, one of the nations leading
mental health organizations, Mental health conditions are common among teens and young
adults. 1 in 5 live with a mental health condition. Mental health problems in young people can
lead to tragic consequences, including suicide, substance abuse, inability to live independently,
involvement with the correctional system, failure to complete high school, lack of vocational
success, and health problems. The U.S. needs greater funding for mental health services
considering the recent cut in state mental health budgets, the lack of access to affordable mental
healthcare services and also the lack of mental health professionals in order for Americans to
receive the care they need to live healthy and productive lives. Addressing mental health issues is
one of the most important challenges facing our society today.
In 2011, NAMI released a report called State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis. This
report documents cuts to state spending on services for children and adults living with a mental
illness. In this report NAMI writes, States have cut more than $1.6 billion in general funds from
their state mental health agency budgets for mental health services. The cut in funds can result
in loss of services for those who need it most, such as individuals living with a serious mental
illness. As budget cuts have mounted, both inpatient and community services for children and
adults living with serious mental illness have been downsized or eliminated (NAMI). Cutting or

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decreasing state mental health funds is making a strong statement to the public that mental health
is not viewed upon as an important issue. USA Today reports, States looking to save money
have pared away both the community mental health services designed to keep people healthy, as
well as the hospital care needed to help them heal after a crisis.
Mental health programs that are paid for by general funds have already been cut
tremendously, so states will likely go to Medicaid for savings. In a tough economy, mental
health services are often the first state programs cut (USA Today). NAMI says, Medicaid is the
largest source of financing public mental health services. As if it is not already hard enough to
obtain access to mental health treatment, some states are making a cut to Medicaid. This cut
further cuts vital services to people living with a mental illness. California has proposed cuts of
about $1.4 billion to Medicaid (NAMI).
A comprehensive range of mental health services which are accessible and acceptable is
also needed (Tindall 5). Americans are not receiving the necessary treatments for mental health
issues. The lack of access Americans have to treatment is a serious problem. USA Today says,
We need greater equality so that everyone has access to the care they need. Mental Health
America released its annual State of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America is the
nations leading community based non-profit dedicated to helping all Americans achieve
wellness by living mentally healthier lives. This report provides an overall view of mental health
status among young people and adults. One reason this report is conducted is to track changes in
prevalence of mental health issues and access to mental health care. In their report MHA says,
Among our most severely depressed youth, only 22 percent are receiving adequate treatment for
their mental health problems. Mental Health America found that even when individuals are
insured they face barriers such as inability to pay for treatment, difficulty using or accessing the

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mental health benefits offered by insurance, and lack of available services. Insurance does not
guarantee access to treatment. MHA found, One in five adults with a disability report difficulty
getting care due to costs. Without insurance, many young adults are not able to cover the
expenses on their own. Even as the population suffering from mental illness grows, hitting 9.6
million in 2012, the number of psychiatric beds declined to just over 108,000, writes USA
Today.
The mental health care system is strained by the number of people who need help and a
shortage of psychiatrists to meet those needs. In an interview conducted by Live Science,
Van Cleave said, About one in 10 school-age children in the United States has a mental health
condition, and there are not enough child psychiatrists to care for them. Health Resources and
Services Administration published a list of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations are used to identify areas and population
groups within the United States that are experiencing a shortage of health professionals. There
are three categories: primary medical care, dental or mental health providers. There are
currently approximately 4,000 Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HRSA). Mental
Health HPSAs are based on a psychiatrist to population ratio. HRSA states, When there are
30,000 or more people per psychiatrist, an area is eligible to be designated as a mental health
HPSA. This means to fill the psychiatrist to population gap, it would take approximately 2,800
additional psychiatrists to eliminate the current mental health HPSA designations (HRSA). USA
Today claims, We must increase the number of mental health professionals across the country.
In 2014, World Health Organization released Mental Health Atlas. The Atlas includes
up-to-date information on the availability of mental health services and resources across the
world, including financial allocations, human resources and specialized facilities for mental

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health (WHO). According to the Atlas, nearly half of the world's population lives in a country
where there is less than one psychiatrist per 100,000 people. WHO also created an action plan
named, Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan for 2013-2020. WHO states, The Action
Plans overall goal is to promote mental well-being, prevent mental disorders, provide care,
enhance recovery, promote human rights and reduce the mortality, morbidity and disability for
persons with mental disorders. One thing the Action Plan will do is enable individuals with
mental health disorders to find it easier to access mental health and social care services. It will
also enable them to gain greater access to government disability benefits, housing and livelihood
programs, and better participate in work and community life and civic affairs.
Everyone deserves to be mentally healthy. Mental health centers are struggling to stay
funded and open. Individuals with a mental illness are being neglected by lawmakers, who slash
cost-effective services and discriminate against them through federal policies that block access to
care (USA Today). One problem is even if you can find mental health care, you cant afford it.
It is very important that steps are taken to prevent future mental health problems. It is also
important that the individuals with a mental illness are able to get the help they need. Patients
and their advocates say the country's mental health system has been drowning for a long time,
not from floodwaters but from neglect (USA Today). America must address the mental health
issue before a crisis occurs.

Works Cited

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State Mental Health Cuts: The Continuing Crisis. NAMI. National Alliance on Mental Illness,
Nov. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
New MHA Report Ranks States, Shows Massive Gap in Mental Health Access for Youth.
MHA. Mental Health America, 30 Sep. 2015. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.
Nguyen, Theresa. Parity or Disparity: The State of Mental Health in America. MHA. Mental
Health America, 2015. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
Shortage Designation: Health Professional Shortage Areas & Medically Underserved
Areas/Populations. Health Resources and Services Administration. U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.
Mental Health Atlas. WHO. World Health Organization, 2014. Web. 24 Nov.
2015.
Szabo, Liz. Cost of Not Caring: Nowhere to go. USA Today. USA Today,
2015. Web. 26 Nov.

2015.

Nierenberg, Cari. Many Kids With Mental Health Issues Only See
Pediatricians. FoxNews.

Live Science, 12 Oct. 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.

Tindall, Balliere. Serious Mental Health Prroblems in The Community: Policy,

Practice, and

Research. London: Harcourt Publishers Limited, 1999. Print