This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy signing into law the Community Mental Health Act. Today there is a renewed focus on providing access community based mental health services and meeting the promise of President Kennedy's vision.

Mental illness is a serious condition that affects 1-in-4 families and 1-in-10 children. We know services work and people recover. Yet, today people and families are experiencing unacceptably long waits for community-based services that are essential to their recovery because current community mental health services are significantly underfunded.

Making progress

Last year, Governor Patrick and the Legislature made progress in beginning to restore past cuts and provide services to those living with a mental illness. As a result, more children, adolescents, adults and seniors began the journey to recovery, but many are still waiting.

• People living with mental illnesses can recover and live successfully in the community when they have access to community based services such as peer directed programs, clubhouses, case management and residential supports, to name a few.
• For children and youth, DMH and DEEC provides funding for unique services that prevent costly out-of-home placements and enable children to live at home and attend school in their own community.
• Funding mental health services is both cost-effective and consistent with the core principles of a humane, civilized society.

Fund Mental Health Services

FundMentalHealth.org urges the legislature to increase funding for community based mental health services at DMH and DEEC $15 million above the Governor's House 1 budget. This increase will allow us to expand access to vital community-based mental health services.