NAMI Grading the States Survey

ALBANY, NY (03/11/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Office of Mental Health today announced that New York State's mental health service system for adults is one of only six State mental health programs in the country to receive the highest grade in a national survey conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI, the nation's largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families, released their annual Grading the States report and scored New York with a "B." The average grade for the survey was a "D."

"We appreciate NAMI's effort to put the focus on mental health care" said Michael F. Hogan, Ph.D, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). "While we are gratified by high rating, we have a long way to go. The report recognizes the progress we are making in NYS to better support recovery from mental illness."

NAMI's survey scored states on 65 factors related to good mental health care for adults and focused on specific areas that can mark a state's progress on the road to an accountable, recovery-oriented system of mental health care. New York scored above the average on 50 of the 65 factors in the survey.

Executive Director of NAMI, Michael Fitzpatrick notes that, "...Grading the States promotes transparency and accountability in measuring our progress towards 'transformation' of the nation's system of care, as envisioned by the New Freedom Commission." He added that "...America today faces the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Almost every state, county and local government is facing large deficits and cutting public services across the board..."

New York State received high marks from NAMI for innovative solutions to address some of the mental health challenges faced both in the State and across the nation. Examples cited by NAMI include:

• OMH has "emphasized support for evidence-based practices." OMH developed an Evidence-Based Practice Technical Assistance Center to promote the widespread availability of research-proven approaches to improve mental health services, ensure accountability, and promote recovery-oriented outcomes for consumers and their families.
• New York's innovation and investment in mental health housing, including innovative approaches like "Housing First," where homeless individuals are first offered stable housing and then mental health and health care. The report notes that "lack of housing is still a very serious problem."
• New York's "Timothy's Law" requires health insurers to offer care for selected mental health conditions on a par with care for other health problems.

"NAMI's Grading the State's report is thought-provoking and thorough," said Hogan. He added that, "New York State is working hard to maintain progress in very challenging economic times."

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