Mental Health Cuts in Virginia
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 2011 report State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis, expenditures for mental health across the country have been drastically impacted by budget cuts. “Between 2009 and 2011, states cumulatively cut more than $1.8 billion from their budgets for services for children and adults living with mental illness” (p.3). The consequences of the staggering cuts to mental health services faced across the nation are being felt in Virginia. In 2009, Virginia allocated $424.3 million for mental health programs. In 2011, $38.5 million dollars were cut resulting in 9.1% reduction in two years. Among other states, Virginia is ranked 17th in highest percentage of mental health budget cuts. What is perhaps most frightening is that the cuts are far from over. For 2012, it is projected that Virginia will experience the loss of $293 in matched Medicaid funding due to Medicaid cuts. What does this mean for people whose lives are greatly benefited through receipt of mental health services in Virginia?
“For youth and adults living with serious mental illness, these consequences include frequent visits to emergency rooms, hospitalizations, homelessness, entanglement with juvenile and criminal justice systems, the loss of critical developmental years, premature deaths and suicides. It is well documented that even prior to the economic recession, more than one-half of people living with serious mental illness received no services in the previous year.” (p. 4).
Further, as personnel and administrative cuts have already taken place, it is the services themselves that will be further damaged through the elimination or programs and eligibility. Already, NAMI has documented the type of mental health services that have been eliminated or significantly downsized include:
• Acute (emergency) and long-term hospital treatment
• Crisis intervention teams and crisis stabilization programs
• Targeted, intensive case management services
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs
• Supportive housing
• Targeted case management and clinic services for children and adolescents
• Access to psychiatric medications
For more information, including policy recommendations, see NAMI's State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis
