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A Failing National Mental Health System

In 2006, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) graded states' mental health-care systems. The national average was a D. In a follow-up three years later, that average didn't change.

In 2006, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) graded states' mental health-care systems. The national average was a D. In a follow-up three years later, that average didn't change. Here are highlights from the 2009 report.

  • Oklahoma had the biggest score increase, rising from a D to a B. South Carolina, meanwhile, had the nation's steepest drop, from a B to a D.
  • Twenty-three states kept the same grade. Fourteen increased their scores, but almost just as many (12) saw their scores fall.
  • NAMI found state mental health agencies made valiant efforts to improve systems and promote recovery despite rising demand for services, workforce shortages and inadequate resources.
  • The feds failed to provide leadership in developing uniform standards for collecting state, county and local data.
Tina Trenkner is the Deputy Editor for GOVERNING.com. She edits the Technology and Health newsletters.
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