RTI International Produces National Resource on Mental Health Statistics

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Researchers at RTI International recently published Mental Health, United States, 2010, a reference volume of mental health statistics from the most recent data sources available.

Since 1980, the series, Mental Health, United States, has helped the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and its constituents inform policy, measure program impact and improve the quality of services and outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

Mental Health, United States, 2010 presents estimates from 35 sources in more than 25 exhibits and 130 tables that span three broad topic areas: mental health of the population, providers and settings for mental health services, and mental health payers and payment mechanisms.

"This series is the nation's go-to source for the most up-to-date estimates on mental health," said Alexander Cowell, Ph.D., an economist at RTI and the project's director. "In the 2010 volume, we added several new data features, such as a section focused on state-level mental health data, estimates on children's treatment needs, the impact of the state budget crisis, services in nontraditional settings and unmet need. The volume also includes a summary of data gaps in the mental health field."

Copies of the book can be downloaded or ordered from SAMHSA's website.

The next volume in the series, Behavioral Health, United States, 2012, will broaden the scope to issues of substance use in addition to mental health. Behavioral Health, United States, 2012 is currently in development and will be released by the end of 2013.