NAMI Releases Latest Report Exploring State–Level Mental Health Legislation in 2022

Sep 13, 2023

NAMI released today a new publication: NAMI State Legislation Report: Trends in State Mental Health Policy (2022), which highlights and summarizes significant state mental health legislation from 2022. This report is intended as a guide for mental health advocates and policymakers when looking to create comprehensive mental health policies in their states.

NAMI’s State Legislation Report explores standout successful legislation from the 50 states and Washington, DC, and features best practices from NAMI State Organization leaders who played key roles in shaping some of these policies. Although this report is limited to 2022 legislation, the policy outcomes within can be adopted by other states in 2024 and beyond.

The report’s analysis is divided into three main sections based on the topic area pillars of the NAMI 2020-2025 Strategic Plan: people get help early, get the best possible care and get diverted from criminal justice system involvement. It further categorizes legislation within focus areas that represent issues of importance to NAMI’s mission and that also saw significant legislative action in 2022. Those issues include:

• Early intervention
• Child and adolescent mental health
• Access to care
• Culturally competent care
• Medication access
• Mental health workforce
• Crisis response
• Diversion
• Criminal Justice Reform

Mental health was a top policy priority across the nation in 2022, as Americans continued to grapple with a nationwide mental health crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the launch of 988 (the new three-digit number for mental health, suicide, and substance use crises) on July 16, 2022, put crisis response at the forefront of many states’ mental health agendas. As state policymakers look towards the 2024 legislative sessions, mental health will remain a top priority and NAMI’s State Legislation Report can serve as a resource about how to address some of the largest policy challenges facing people affected by mental health conditions.

Learn more about what states are doing on 988 crisis response and many other issues impacting individuals with mental health conditions and their families in the NAMI State Legislation Report: Trends in State Mental Health Policy (2022)