Mental Health Care In America – County Behavioral Health AuthoritiesSpeak Out

April 3, 2000

The National Association of County Behavioral Health Directors (NACBHD) recently released a report on the current condition of county-based behavioral/mental health systems in America. The report is based on a survey of county behavioral health directors which was conducted between December 1999 and January 2000 via 351 telephone interviews. The report contains no real surprises but confirms that change is needed at local levels to improve delivery systems for behavioral health services across the nation. Specifically, the report concludes that resources and funding are scarce, that newer drug therapies "are more effective than . . .