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Massachusetts Has Cut Mental Health Care by $55 Million in Last Four Years: Health Care Crisis Continues

December 1, 2011

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness has released a report, State Mental Health Cuts: The
Continuing Crisis. This report documents legislative actions resulting in $1.6 billion in state mental
health budget cuts from FY 2009 to FY 2012 nationally.

Massachusetts cut mental health by over $55 million since FY 2009 – that’s 8.1 percent. With these
cuts, entire programs offered by the Department of Mental Health have been eliminated including three
specific day services – the Support, Education and Employment (SEE) program, Day Treatment Programs
and Social Clubs; and two PACT teams (Program for Assertive Community Treatment).There has also
been a loss of 156 hospital beds: 150 beds from Westborough State hospital’s accelerated closure two
and a half years ago, and the elimination of 16 beds at the Quincy Mental Health Center.

The report focused on state general funds allocated to state mental health agencies (i.e. Department of
Mental Health) for mental health services. It does not include mental health funding under the control
of other state agencies or departments, like MassHealth. Were all cuts affecting mental health services
factored in, total reductions would be significantly higher.

“During these tough times, elected officials have to make difficult decisions using the best information
they can,” said Laurie Martinelli, Executive Director of NAMI Massachusetts. “NAMI’s budget report
gives important data to help policy makers get the facts and understand the impacts.”

As compared to other New England states, Massachusetts has had the most mental health cuts,
followed by New Hampshire, reflected in the State Mental Health Budgets FY2009‐FY2012:

• Maine – 15.4% increase
• Rhode Island – 10.6% increase
• Connecticut – 5.8% increase
• Vermont – 1.0 % increase
• New Hampshire – 1.3 % decrease
• Massachusetts – 8.1 % decrease

Across the country and in Massachusetts, communities, families and businesses pay a high price when
people do not get the mental health care they need,” Martinelli said. “We call on state officials
including Governor Patrick, to restore these cuts. Budget numbers may not be fun to read, but people’s
lives hang in the balance.”

Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Rhode Island have all increased their mental health budgets.

You can read the full NAMI report at:  www.nami.org/budgetcuts.

Please help us get the word out about this budget report in these ways:

• Have your local NAMI newsletter publish an article about these cuts (see attached press release or full report)
• Send this report and press release to your elected officials;
• Forward this email and report onto your entire AFFILIATE BOARD;
• Contact your local media and try to get them to write a story about these cuts;
• What other ideas? And how can we help?

Thank you,

Laurie Martinelli

Executive Director

NAMI Mass

400 W. Cummings Park, Suite 6650

Woburn, MA  01801

Phone:  781-938-4048

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