STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION The following statement is submitted by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) and concerns Fiscal Year 1992 appropriations for mental heaith programs. NMHA is the nation's only citizens' voluntary advocacy organization concerned with all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With over 500 affiliates across the country, NMHA works to meet this challenge through education, research, services and advocacy on the local, state, and national level. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost one third of American adults will suffer from a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder at some time in their lives. According to the Institute of Medicine, at least 12 percent of American children (nearly 8 million) are currently in need of mental health services. The Administration's FY 1992 budget provides for only minimal increases for most mental health programs and proposes the elimination of several programs that are critically needed and proven to be effective. NMHA's recommendations for FY 1992 funding of programs related to the needs of persons with mental illness are detailed in the chart below. Of special concern are the following programs: Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration ■ Research by the National Institute of Mental Health: Funding is needed in FY 1992 to conduct the next phase of the National Plan for Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders and to implement other NIMH initiatives in mental health research. ■ The Protection and Advocacy System for Persons with Mental Illness: This programa ■ Prevention Services Demonstrations: Established to test the results of prevention research studies, these model programs offer preventative services to individuals who are seriously mentally ill (i.e. suicide prevention) or at risk of developing a mental illness, including displaced workers, young children, adolescents, and children who are adopted or abused. Funds are presently used to support six demonstration programs focusing on the prevention of youth suicide and chronic conduct disorders. The President's proposed four percent increase is insufficient and will not allow for the continuation of existing programs at their budgeted level nor the funding of initiatives targeted toward individuals "at risk." The Community Support Program (CSP) and the Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP): The President's budget recommends a four percent increase, which will not allow for any additional state service system improvement grants or research demonstration grants through CSP and will permit only continuation of current grants through CASSP. The funding level recommended by NMHA is necessary in order to accomplish FY 1992 goals, including the development of service demonstrations for the elderly, through CSP, and implementation of the highly effective model systems of care established by the initial CASSP grants. ■ Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH): Authorized at $75 million per year through FY 1994, these grants to States allow for the provision of mental health, alcohol or drug treatment and housing services to people who are homeless and suffering from serious mental illness or a combination of mental illness and substance abuse. The Administration's request for $43 million in FY 1992 is inadequate to meet the extensive needs of this population. Currently, States are able to serve no more than twenty percent of the homeless population who are mentally ill and have indicated their ability and willingness to match federal grants at significantly higher levels. Department of Education ■ Special Education for Children who are Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act): Children and youth with severe emotional disorders are among the most underserved children in special education. The amount authorized for FY 1992 ($8 million) is necessary to allow for continued implementation of this program, designed to provide a range of educational interventions. LIST OF WITNESSES, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PREPARED STATEMENTS Page Abercrombie, Hon. Neil, U.S. Representative from Hawaii Abboud, Dr. Francois, director, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Iowa College of Medicine, on behalf of American Heart Association Prepared statement Akaka, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii, prepared statement 230 232 567 501 709 Prepared statement 711 Albright, Nathan W., National Labor Relations Board Union American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, prepared statement 947 1029 930 ment 842 American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, prepared statement American Dental Hygienists' Association, prepared statement 1024 920 American Federation for Clinical Research, prepared statement American Psychological Association, Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, prepared statement Apoliona, S. Haunani, president and chief executive officer, Alu Like, Inc., 532 Prepared statements. 543, 557 Armstrong, Martha, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Asbury, Dr. Arthur K., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, on behalf of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges 190 Prepared statement 192 Ashley, Frank B., Ph.D., project administrator, National Youth Sports Program Project, Texas A&M University 334 Prepared statement 335 Associated General Contractors of America, prepared statement 846 879 979 Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, prepared statement 877 Page Association of University Programs in Health Administration, prepared state ment Association of University Programs in Occupational Health and Safety, prepared statement 966 972 Atlantic Emergency Medical Services Council, prepared statement 1005 Ball, John E.D., president, National Captioning Institute, prepared statement 451 Barnes, Ambassador Harry G., executive director, Critical Languages and 12 Prepared statement Prepared statement Bartels, Elmer C., Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation 13 129 133 Bell, Norman H., former president, American Society for Bone and Mineral 480 Prepared statement 482 Bentsen, Hon. Lloyd, U.S. Senator from Texas 6 Berman, Brian, on behalf of National Gaucher Foundation 429 Prepared statement 431 Bess, Lily, vice president, National Captioning Institute 451 Best, Michele Lynn, American Society of Clinical Pathologists 287 Prepared statement 289 Bickers, David, professor and chairman of dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, on behalf of the Society for Investigative Dermatology Prepared statement 436 437 Billings, Dr. Ruth E., University of Nevada School of Medicine, on behalf 259 263 Prepared statement 261 Blair, Stephen J., president, National Association of Trade and Technical Borallis, Loretta, administrator, Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna Project, Alu 564 Bothe, Albert, Jr., chairman, public policy committee, American Society for 644 Prepared statement 646 Boyle, Marcia, president, Immune Deficiency Foundation 465 Brabham, Robert E., M.D., executive director, National Rehabilitation Association 350 Prepared statement 352 Breckenmaker, Lynn Cooper, National Family Planning and Reproductive 99 Prepared statement 102 Bridgen, Dr. Pamela J., executive director, Association of Biotechnology Companies 174 Prepared statement 176 Bross, Daniel T., executive director, AIDS Action Council 58 Prepared statement 59 Brown, Senator, prepared statement 995 Browstein, Alan, executive director of the National Hemophilia Foundation Butler, Barbara, chairperson, Coalition of Patient Advocates for Skin Disease 491 Prepared statement 492 Byron, Father William, president, Catholic University, on behalf of American 408 Prepared statement 409 Canaan, Patrick, governmental liaison, U.S. Catholic Conference 447 181 Prepared statement 183 Cazzetta Ralph, on behalf of Cooley's Anemia Foundation, Inc Children's Brain Diseases Foundation, prepared statement Clark, Dr. James N., trustee, American Dental Association Prepared statement Close Up Foundation, prepared statement Coalition for Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue, prepared statement 596 Prepared statement 597 Cohodes, Donald R., vice president, Federal programs, Blue Cross & Blue 312 Prepared statement 313 .......... Collins, Rev. Byron, S.J., special assistant to the president, Georgetown University, prepared statement 446 Community Food Research and Action Center, prepared statement 859 Concerned Citizens for Ethical Research, Inc., prepared statement 1007 Conjoint Committee on Diagnostic Radiology, prepared statement 968 1044 Cooke, Eileen D., associate executive director, American Library Association 457 Prepared statement 459 Cornman, John M., executive director, the Gerontological Society of America 240 242 Cotreaux, William Joseph, on behalf of the Society for Animal Protective Legislation 657 Prepared statement 659 Coulter, Dr. Joe D., University of Iowa College of Medicine, on behalf of Crecy, Larry, executive vice president, National Caucus and Center on Black Cranford, Charles O., D.D.S., M.P.A., executive director, Arkansas AHEC program, and associate dean, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, prepared statement 857 381 Prepared statement 382 Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, prepared statement 899 Czeisler, Dr. Charles, Center for Circadian and Sleep Disorders Medicine, Datig, Cindy, chairperson, National Fuel Funds Network 346 347 David, John R., M.D., professor and chairman, department of tropical public health, Harvard School of Public Health, and immediate past president, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Dement, Dr. William C., chairman, National Commission on Sleep Disorders 243 Prepared statement 246 Detre, Thomas, president, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center 425 Prepared statement 427 Dewey, Dr. William L., vice provost for research and professor of pharmacology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, on behalf of the Committee on Problems of Drug Dependence 776 Prepared statement 778 Doris Day Animal League, prepared statement 883 Dorman, Keith G., manager, Federal Government issues, the Peoples Natural Dorrer, John, vice president, New England Training & Employment Council, 802 Prepared statement 804 |