Report cites steep decline of mental health funding in Kansas

<br clear=”all” />A new report from a mental health advocacy group said Kansas is one of the states with the deepest cuts in mental health spending. Only seven states and the District of Columbia had sharper reductions over the past four years.

The report from NAMI — the National Alliance on Mental Illness — said state general fund spending for mental health services in Kansas dropped by more than $14 million during the 2009 to 2012 fiscal years. NAMI-Kansas Executive Director Rick Cagan said if you look back six years, instead of just four, mental health cuts in Kansas total more than $38 million.

“The downward trend continues, and we’re actually among a group of 10 states that’s leading the way to the bottom and putting our citizens at risk at a time when the need for mental health services is on the rise,” Cagan said.

He said the cuts would have been even deeper if not for the efforts of state lawmakers.

“We came in with proposals from the governor’s budget to reduce another $15 million in spending at the beginning of this year, and all of those funds were restored,” Cagan said.

He said Kansas needs to provide a stable funding mechanism for mental health services in good times and bad.

States Making Biggest Cuts To Mental Health

Here are the 10 states making the biggest percentage cuts to their mental health budgets:

• Kentucky 47.5%

• Alaska 35%

• South Carolina 22.7%

• Arizona 22.7%

• Wisconsin 22.4%

• Nevada 17.3%

• Kansas 16.4%

• California 16.3%

• Illinois 15.1%

• Mississippi 14.7%

Washington D.C. also was high on the list, with a 19.1 percent cut.