NAMI Michigan

On behalf of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Michigan, we call for a revision of the 2010 Michigan Budget to promote, not undermine quality treatment of mentally ill individuals. We appreciate that, in these extremely tough economic times, sacrifices must be made to produce a balanced budget. But at all times, mental illnesses ravage lives, leaving behind them a wake of pain and brokenness, economic disaster, incarceration, homelessness, hospitalizations, and suicide.

Quality treatment is not only an ethical imperative, but it also makes economic sense. Mental illnesses going untreated leave individuals incapacitated, changing them from wage earners and consumers into dependents on social welfare or even prisoners, exacting a huge financial burden. Untreated mental illnesses result in expensive ER trips and costly psychiatric hospitalizations for which taxpayers too often pick up the tab. Together, all the negative consequences of untreated mental illness cost the State of Michigan hundreds of millions in funds that could be used productively to benefit every Michigan community. By fighting cuts to Community Mental Health Services, which are responsible for treating hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens every year and continue to turn away mentally ill individuals, legislators would advance the health of the Michigan workforce and enable it to realize a prosperous financial future. An investment in mental health treatment is an obligation to our state, our communities and to the thousands of citizens in our state.

In conclusion, NAMI Michigan supports funding of mental health services at the current rate and calls upon legislators to rewrite the 2010 budget to prevent cuts that would only result in personal pain and financial cost to society outweighing any funds the State of Michigan hopes to save.