One in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental health condition, but less than half receive treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI’s State Legislation Report analyzing standout state mental health legislation in 2019 identified key trends in mental health policymaking and highlighted policy options that can be advanced to improve the lives of individuals affected by mental health conditions.
The report’s analysis is framed around three pillars of NAMI’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan: people should get help early, get the best possible care, and get diverted from justice system involvement. Key areas of focus covered in the report include early intervention, continuum of mental health services, mental health education, mental health workforce, suicide prevention, inclusive and culturally competent care, Medicaid and state-regulated health insurance coverage, crisis response, mental health and substance use parity, diversion, medication access, and rehabilitation and reentry.
Research uncovered several clear areas of progress in 2019 legislation, including incorporating mental health and suicide prevention into formal education curriculums, defending against threats to Medicaid coverage and funding for mental health services, reforming commercial insurance market enforcement of federal parity law by mandating more active and transparent enforcement, and requiring alternatives to law enforcement response to crises such as mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization. The solutions contained within the report can be used at any time by state policymakers interested in addressing urgent mental health challenges and finding innovative solutions.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nami.org/research/publications-reports/public-policy-reports/nami-state-legislation-report-trends-in-state-mental-health-policy-2019/