The Mental Health Association in Texas called on state legislators Tuesday to restore millions of dollars cut from mental health funding in 2003, saying mental illness is costing the state as much as $16.6 billion a year.

Click Here To See The Report

"Mental health care delivery in Texas is broken, but we knowhow to fix it," said Lynn Lasky Clark, association president.

Fixing it, she said, requires that lawmakers restore $50 million in mental health funding cuts made in 2003 when the state faced a $10 billion budget shortfall.

Among the recommendations in the report from research conducted
by MGT American, a national research and consulting firm, arer restoring mental health benefits to the Children's Health Insurance Program, removing the 90-day waiting period for CHIP services and increasing funding for mental health services in the state.

"We are calling on lawmakers to resist, restore, and recognize," Clark said.

"Resist more budget cuts, restore the cuts made last session, and recognize that a smart investment in mental health care will save money and help millions lead productive lives."

Texas ranked 49th in the nation in spending for mental health services in 2002, the report said.

About three out of 10 Texans suffer from mental illness, said Jon Hockenyos, an economic analyst.

The money Texas loses as a result includes $13.3 billion in workforce reduction, $2.6 billion in workforce lost due to premature death and $700 million from income lost by family caregivers, he said.

Click Here For Mental Health Association Web Site