Mental Health Indicator Parity: Integrating National, State, and Local Data

Abstract

To successfully move into the new millennium, President George W. Bush commissioned healthcare providers and advocates as well as policy makers to transform the current delivery of mental health services in the United States. This chapter addresses the need to assess the demographic characteristics of individuals who experience mental illness. We compiled available mental health data to describe the prevalence of mental illness in Dallas County and in Texas, with comparisons to national rates. This report presents mental health indicators for the United States, Texas, and Dallas County by age, race/ethnicity, education, and poverty level, where available. Because the methods for collecting the data were different, comparisons of state and local data with the national level data should be made with caution. This chapter is intended to assist researchers, policymakers, and service providers in employing consistent measure of mental health disorders that will allow comparisons at the local, state, and national levels. These efforts represent the beginning of a process of responding to mental health and illness in our community to better serve affected individuals and their families.