Mental Health America, the oldest mental health advocacy organization in the United States just released its annual The State of Mental Health in America 2017 report. The report utilizes data from 15 national data bases and surveys collected during 2014 to provide a portrait of mental health in America. The various data sources are listed in the report. Five key findings from this report emerge. First, 20% of the American population has a mental health condition, more than the combined populations of New York and Florida. Second, mental health among our youth is worsening, with 11.1% of all youth experiencing depression in 2014. Among those youth with severe depression, 80% are left without treatment. Third, the country experiences a severe shortage of behavioral health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors. Fourth, more Americans have access to services as a result of healthcare reform, including access to mental health services. This is particularly true in states like Arizona that expanded Medicaid coverage. Fifth, most Americans still lack access to mental health care, with 56% of all individuals experiencing mental illnesses going without any treatment.
In a comparison of states, Arizona received an overall ranking of 50th, just above the state of Nevada and just below the states or Oregon & Idaho. Looking below the surface of this overall ranking provides a slightly different story. When looking only at adults, Arizona was ranked 42nd, while looking just at youth, Arizona was ranked 50th. These two rankings take into account measures of prevalence of conditions and proportions of the population with conditions that went without treatment. These two rankings of Adults (42) and Youth (50) reflect a higher degree of unmet and untreated mental health conditions among Arizona's youth. Arizona fared better when looking at Access to Care indicators where Arizona was ranked 40th, having improved from a rank of 44th in 2011. This improvement can be attributable to Medicaid restoration/ expansion and the efforts that were undertaken to enroll individuals into the ACA health plans. One of the more compelling contrasts that the report provides is between state's access to care and their rates of incarceration. Ironically, while Arizona is ranked 40th in their access to care, they are ranked 6th in the country in rates of imprisonment.
This data provides Arizona with some troubling indicators, many of which reflect the policies that our elected officials have chosen to enact. Overall, Arizona experiences some of the highest rates of mental illness and substance use disorders among both its youth and its adults. Furthermore, the lack of funding for our schools results in few health promotion programs and a dearth of school counselors and psychologists. These critical educational professionals serve on the frontline of prevention, early detection and early intervention. The shredding of safety net programs, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and in-home family support services also contribute to these observed elevated rates of mental health and substance use disorders.
In the absence of these resources, nascent mental illness and substance use is allowed to go undetected and untreated, all too often, for many years, until the conditions have been allowed to "metastasize", causing disruption to education, employment, and family functioning. All too often individuals experiencing untreated mental illness or substance abuse will come to the attention of the criminal justice system and become incarcerated.
It's time to act - the 2017 Mental Health America report should be a wakeup call to all Arizonans. MHA of Arizona calls upon Governor Ducey and the elected members of our state legislature to address the issues of mental illness and substance abuse B4STAGE4. Make wise investments in school based programming that provides mental health professionals and uniform screening in all schools, including charter schools, and all grades. Restore funding to critical safety net programs, including TANF and in home family support services. Stop the mass incarceration of people with untreated mental illness and substance use disorders. Require private health insurance plans to provide full parity for mental health and substance abuse services. Provide incentives for young people to become mental health professionals and work with our colleges and universities to build our behavioral health workforce.
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About Mental Health America
Mental Health America is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to helping all Americans achieve wellness by living mentally healthier lives. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all, early identification and intervention for those at risk, integrated care and treatment for those who need it-with recovery as the goal.
About Mental Health America of Arizona
Mental Health America of Arizona (MHA AZ), serving Arizona since 1954, is here to educate our community and advocate for all those individuals and families impacted by mental illness. Our vision is a mentally healthy Arizona free from stigma and treatment disparities. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness. MHA AZ promotes the mental health and well-being for all Arizonans through education, advocacy and the shaping of policy.
