Hi,

The Florida Senate wants to eliminate more than $100 million in funding for our state’s mental health and substance abuse system, an unprecedented reduction.

Florida already ranks 50th in the nation for per capita spending in state supported behavioral health care. A reduction of this magnitude will destroy an already fragile system. Nearly 140,000 people who struggle with very serious mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders will lose their access to life-saving services.

This budget reduction will not only cause unnecessary suffering to individuals and their families, it will actually result in much higher costs for Florida taxpayers. Instead of having access to more economical community-based services, individuals in crisis will end up repeatedly in our hospital emergency rooms, criminal justice system, and homeless centers, at a much greater cost to all of us.

If you are a Florida resident, please sign our petition to let our state legislators know that we can’t afford this short-sighted and dangerous reduction to essential state services.

That’s why I signed a petition to The Florida State House, The Florida State Senate, and Governor Rick Scott, which says:

“Florida simply can’t afford to make reductions to community based mental health and substance abuse services. Please vote to maintain current funding levels for these cost-saving services.”

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/floridas-mental-health?source=s.em.cp&r_by=2739322

Thanks!