It is no secret that Florida’s mental health system is chronically and significantly underfunded. According to the most recent available data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Florida has a state mental health agency per-capita expenditure of $37.28, giving it a rank of 49th for mental health funding in the United States.
Additionally, there are numerous distinct state agencies, organizations and districts through which Florida’s mental health funding is dispersed, resulting in fragmentation, uneven access to resources, inconsistent systems of care and inefficiency. Gov. Rick Scott’s acknowledgment of the state’s fragmented mental health funding system and his executive order to review and coordinate Florida’s mental health services are critically important first steps in addressing these challenges.
– Tallahassee Democrat