2006 Washington State Mental Health Resource & Needs Assessment Study
This report contains data and results
from 823 structured interviews focused on four questions:
Within Washington State, what is working well to address the needs
of mental health consumers?
What is NOT working, creates barriers, or fails to provide quality
service and support when addressing the needs of mental health
consumers?
What would a "transformed" mental health system look like?
What outcomes would indicate that the changes in mental health
service systems are creating improved results for consumers?
Those interviewed were underserved consumers, served consumers,
mental health specialists, and top executives and managers from 16
different state programs which provide mental health services to some of
their clients. Key findings were:
About half the low-income people who do not have private health
insurance coverage are not able to access state-funded mental health
services from the umbrella state agency (DSHS).
For those served, access is still a problem.
Over half the served consumers have experienced stigma and
discrimination in their daily lives because of their mental illness.
Service choices are currently very limited.
For over half of the adult consumers interviewed, mental health
services did not help them get basic resources such as employment,
work training, and safe housing.
Too many mentally ill people are in jail where treatment options
are minimal, and - once released - getting access to mental health
services can be tough.
Consumers want help from one another, and they want to advocate on
their own behalf.
Coordinating and integrating mental health services for consumers
with multiple conditions and service needs is both important and
difficult.
For children and youth with mental health needs (and their
families), little or no help other than medication is available
through state-provided health care.
Cultural competence in service delivery still needs work.
This research supports the work of Washington State's Mental Health
Transformation Project, through the support of a grant from the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Download
Click on the PDF symbol to the left and download the report: "The
Voices - 2006 Washington State Mental Health Resource &
Needs Assessment Study"Publication Date: 9/2006. Report Number 3.31.
(2.6 MB)
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For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Social
and Health Services, go to
the DSHS Contact
Information Web page. Technical Site Comments: DSHS Webmaster.
Copyright 2004 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
