A NAMI/Ipsos poll found overwhelming public support for policymaker action to address the mental health crisis.

The findings:

• State of mental health system: 57% of adults have an unfavorable view of the current state of the U.S. mental health care system. 64% say Congress is doing too little to address it, while 58% say the same about the president, 46% about their governor, and 50% about their state legislature.
• Funding: 64% say the U.S. spends too little for mental health services, and majorities believe federal funding for mental health care, affordable housing, and 988 should be a high priority for Congress.
• Federal cuts: 73% oppose cutting federal jobs and programs focused on mental health services, opioid treatment, suicide prevention, and 988, with half strongly opposing these cuts. Large majorities (70-85%) are concerned about the possible negative impacts of federal job cuts on mental health services for veterans, 988’s ability to answer calls, mental health services in their community, and mental health research and data collection. 83% support protecting federal funding to help people access mental health care, and 66% believe there should be a federal agency to address the mental health and opioid crises.
• Medicaid: 76% agree that Medicaid is an essential program for providing health care to vulnerable populations, and 70% believe that Medicaid funding cuts would lead to worse health outcomes for low-income individuals and families. 64% agree that Medicaid saves lives by helping people access mental health care, and 83% support protecting federal Medicaid funding to help people access that care. 61% oppose stripping Medicaid coverage from people who are working but did not submit the correct paperwork.