Report lowers grade for Ohio mental health system

A new report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness gives Ohio’s public mental health system a grade of “C,” a drop from the “B” grade the state was given three years ago (Source: “Ohio mental health system slips in national report card,” Columbus Dispatch, March 11, 2009).

The good news in the report is that Ohio’s grade is still higher than the national average grade of “D.” However, the state was one of just 12 to have their grade reduced since the last NAMI report was published in 2006. According to NAMI’s detailed state report card (pdf) the lowered grade was, in part, because of state budget cuts over the past year.

"This grade is a tremendous disappointment," said Jim Mauro, executive direction of NAMI Ohio. "Three years ago, Ohio received a B and was viewed as a national leader. Instead of moving forward as we should have, we have fallen miserably backwards, and in the process have left many of our most vulnerable citizens behind."