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This message is from the National Alliance on Mental Illness -- Ohio chapter -- http://www.namiohio.org/

(I bolded certain parts -- change at the local level is important -- the feds don't always need to get involved. Mandates from the federal level is what leads to wasted money.)

The NAMI Ohio family grieves for the children and families of Connecticut impacted by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Despite considerable speculation, there has been no real information as to whether Adam Lanza had a mental illness or if his family sought mental health services. However, with the focus on mental illness, this is a good time to remind the public about the prevalence of mental illness and the need for more services and supports for those living with it every day.

What we can say with certainty is that mental illness exists in every state, every city and every neighborhood in the U.S. One in 4 adults experiences a mental health disorder in a given year. One in 17 lives with a serious mental illness and 1 in 10 children has a serious mental or emotional disorder. Yet fewer than one-third of adults and one-half of children with a diagnosed mental disorder receive mental health services in a given year. There are many reasons for this, including:

• Lack of knowledge about mental illness

• Stigma of mental illness deters people from seeking help

• Individuals and families don’t know that treatment works or where to go for help

• When individuals or families do seek help, the services are frequently not available.

Over a decade ago, the Surgeon General concluded in a report that “the overall contribution of mental disorders to the total level of violence in society is exceptionally small.” However, when violence does occur, it is usually because something has gone terribly wrong in the mental health care system. Either something has fallen short or something hasn’t happened at all.

It is hard to think of any good that might come out of this tragedy. However, we would be remiss if we did not call attention to the mental health crisis our country is facing, to confront hurtful stereotypes, to take steps to learn more about mental illness, and to ensure that people have access to the care and treatment they need.

NAMI Ohio will be requesting an audience with Governor Kasich to discuss the many issues that individuals with mental illness and their families face every day and the NEED FOR CHANGE.

To this end, we recommend the following action:

* The Governor prioritize funding to increase the continuity of housing options for individuals with mental illness, including long term and transitional secure residential care. Too many people with serious mental illness are living on the streets because there are not enough supportive housing options available. Many individuals end up in jail or prison unnecessarily because they have no place to go that has sufficient supervision.

* Allocate additional resources to communities to meet the mental health needs of children and their families. Too many families are still being required to give up custody to get their child into residential treatment. Youth who require a high level of care are winding up in the juvenile justice system, and young people are falling through the cracks as they transition into adulthood.

* Clarify the Ohio Revised Code to give judges the ability to court order outpatient treatment. Because of the ambiguity in Ohio’s statute pertaining to a judge’s ability to court-order outpatient treatment, only a handful of probate court judge’s order outpatient treatment. Other judges believe they are only allowed to court order into the hospital.

* Create a formal mechanism for individuals with mental illness and family members to communicate their needs to their local ADAMH Boards. Their recommendations will lead to real change at the local level.

Violent tragedies should not have to occur before the country realizes that mental health care must be a priority. NAMI Ohio represents thousands of Ohioans living with mental illness. We are parents. We are friends. We are individuals living with these illnesses. We get it. We’ve been there.