Since each of us either is or has been impacted by mental illness, we know that these federal programs provide valuable research, community mental health services, housing and educational supports. No comprehensive research has been completed since 1985, even though the use and misuse of drugs has increased. Precious lives have been lost. If these mental health service program funds are cut, we will pay a high human price and costs will shift to the state and local level as people in crisis end up in hospitals, jails and homeless shelters.
Why is this important?
I urge you to act now to prevent mandatory, across-the-board cuts to vital mental health research, services and supports from going into effect on January 2, 2013. Reductions of 8.4 percent to important programs funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Department of Education would have a devastating impact on people living with mental illness and other disabilities.
