Advocacy

We seek to promote this change by providing science based information that "severe mental illnesses" are brain disorders that can be treated and managed effectively if an individual has access to a combination of medication, supportive counseling and community support services, including education and vocational training. By educating and informing the public, employers and policy makers, a higher value will be placed on recovery and the quality of life that a person with a severe mental illness can achieve.

Contact Your Representatives

Advocacy Links

View our collection of links for additional information about mental health advocacy.

Advocacy Alerts:

December 2, 2011: DSHS Comprehensive Analysis of Public Behavioral Health System Update:
Stakeholder Forums Begin December 14 in Austin

Dear NAMI members-

We have a wonderful opportunity for grassroots advocacy in December and January. As a result of legislation, HHSC and DSHS is undertaking a comprehensive analysis of the public behavioral health system. There will be 6 stakeholder meetings to gather input, and we strongly encourage you to attend and express your opinion. The first hearing will be December 14, 2011 in Austin. The other meetings are scheduled for January, at times to be announced. The locations are El Paso, Harlingen, Lubbock, Dallas and Houston. The website listed below will provide updated information, and you can subscribe and receive updates automatically.

PLEASE take the time to participate in these very important hearings. If you cannot attend, you can submit comments via email. Please see below for how to do this.

Thanks for all that you do and the difference that you make.

Robin

If you have any questions regarding the public stakeholder forums, please contact Joey Longley at jlongley@civicinitiatives.com or Public Consulting Group at txbhstudy@pcgus.com. If you are not able to attend, you can also submit input to the Public Consulting Group at txbhstudy@pcgus.com.

Stakeholder Forums Begin December 14 in Austin

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would like to announce the scheduling of six (6) public stakeholder forums to be conducted by Public Consulting Group (PCG) as part of the comprehensive analysis of the public behavioral health system. The study of the public behavioral health system is required by DSHS Rider 71, General Appropriations Act, 82nd Texas Legislature, 2011. PCG’s efforts will focus on two major components: (1) a comprehensive study of the current public behavioral health system in Texas and (2) short and long term recommendations for the Texas behavioral health system.

The six (6) stakeholder meetings will be used by PCG to provide stakeholders with an overview of the engagement and to gather stakeholder input on the current behavioral health system. Stakeholders will be encouraged to provide feedback on topics including, but not limited to, access to services, service delivery models, current service array, and funding for services. Attendees will also have an opportunity to provide input on general strengths and weaknesses of the current behavioral health system and thoughts on the future direction of behavioral health services in Texas.

For complete information, please visit the Comprehensive Analysis web page: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhsa/mhsa-analysis.aspx. As the time and location of other forums around the state are confirmed, details will be posted to the Comprehensive Analysis page and announced via email to subscribers of the MHSA News and Announcements and Comprehensive Analysis web pages.

You can view or update your subscriptions, password or e-mail address at any time on your User Profile Page. All you will need are your e-mail address and your password (if you selected one).

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Visit us on the web at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/.

If you have any problems with the subscription service e-mail support@govdelivery.com for assistance.

November 10, 2011: NAMI Report on State Budgets

NAMI released a report on state budgets today, ranking all the states. Click here to read the complete report.

Texas ranks 50th in the nation for state per capita public mental health spending! We are moving in the wrong direction, and this approach to funding mental health services touches our lives in a very real way, every day.

I am also attaching the “legislative leave behind” that is as effective today as it was during the session. It provides you with facts and figures on why funding mental health services saves taxpayer’s dollars and helps Texas families.

And, as always, thanks for all that you do and the difference that you make, every day.

Best regards,

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Give a little time to make a big difference. Take a few moments right now to urge your state legislators to do right by mental health. Pass it on. More noise = bigger impact! If you're not sure who your legislators are you can click here and type in your address. You'll get a list of your US & State Legislators.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Copy the message below into the body of an email
2. Insert a sentence or two of your personal viewpoint
3. Email the message to Governor Perry and your state legislator

POSSIBLE TOPICS:

• Why mental health services are important to you and people you care about.
• A personal success story about the effectiveness of mental health services and/or access to treatment and medications.

Email 1: Thursday, November 10, 2011 SAMPLE BELOW:

Subject line: Mental Health Budget – Move Back from the Edge

As a member of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness [insert your personal message].

In a nationwide report released today, NAMI research found that Texas had a modest increase of 4.3% in state mental health funding from 2009 – 2012 (www.nami.org/budgetcuts). I commend you and your colleagues for maintaining mental health funding in a very tough budget year, rolling back deep cuts proposed in the governors recommended budget. You heard the Texas Association of Counties, Texas Sheriffs Association and mental health stakeholders when they warned that cuts to our dangerously eroded mental health system risks total collapse.

But Texas has a long way to go. Our mental health system is at the bottom of the barrel, with the highest uninsured rate in the nation (26%) and the lowest per capita spending on mental health - less than a third per capita ($38.38) compared to a national average of $122.90.

Although the population with mental illness is growing along with the general Texas population, the Department of State Health Services is not able to serve more people because most of the modest increase of $39.8 million (4.3%) since 2009 pays for expensive psychiatric crisis services. As vital as crisis care is, once the crisis is managed, far too many Texans have to go on a waiting list for ongoing community based care, with the exception of those living in the 7 county NorthSTAR area. The result is a high priced revolving door of crisis teams, emergency rooms and hospitals. And the costs and damage spreads to the criminal justice system through preventable, unnecessary arrests and incarceration.

As your constituent, I call on you to preserve mental health funding and encourage wise use of scarce state dollars. Help individuals and families stay independent of intensive high-cost services through timely and appropriate community treatment, housing and employment supports, and peer/family education. Help us help ourselves.