State policymakers are addressing persistent barriers to mental health care access, which prevents about half of people with a mental health condition from receiving treatment. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released a policy brief examining state legislation enacted in 2025 to improve access across four key areas: child and adolescent mental health, health insurance, medication access, and mental health workforce.
The brief notes that there continues to be a mental health crisis in the United States despite ongoing policy efforts. Many new state laws featured in the analysis were championed by NAMI State Organizations and their advocates, reflecting grassroots engagement with mental health policy. The publication is the second in a larger series—NAMI’s 2025 State Legislation Issue Brief Series—which also examines state laws addressing criminal justice and 988 crisis services.
The brief offers state legislators and advocates policy recommendations with examples of legislation designed to improve mental health care access. These recommendations can be implemented across states, providing a template for jurisdictions seeking to address local access barriers.
NAMI emphasizes that with looming federal funding cuts, states should prioritize mental health and pursue innovative solutions to ensure people get the care they need. The organization stresses that accessing treatment and services at the earliest opportunity can reduce crises and ultimately save lives.
The brief encourages state policymakers to learn from legislation passed in other states and to consider NAMI’s policy recommendations when developing new mental health access initiatives. This collaborative, evidence-informed approach reflects recognition that mental health care is a critical public health priority requiring sustained legislative attention and resource allocation at the state level.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.nami.org/public-policy-reports/2025-state-legislation-issue-brief-series-trends-in-access-to-mental-health-care-state-policy/