The fight for mental health funding in Indiana is not something new to Stephanie Anderson, Chief Operating Officer at Mental Health America of Indiana.

Anderson recognizes the strides made in recent legislative sessions, particularly with the passage of Senate Bill 1 in 2023, which helped Indiana improve its mental health ranking to 26th in the nation.

“We are really concerned that we get the adequate amount of funding needed that we started back in 2023. This all stemmed from the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission saying that it was going to Indiana $42 billion to continue to not treat mental health illness appropriately in the state,” said Anderson.

Anderson said there are misunderstandings about what funding looked like when a budget allocation of $50 million per year was issued two years ago.

“You have to keep in mind that money was supplemented by federal funds. Those are temporary federal funds. This year, that budget was flatlined thinking that was sufficient. Unfortunately, it’s not,” Anderson said.

Anderson gave a breakdown of what’s needed.

“So we need the $50 million that is currently in the budget proposal, plus another $53 million per year in order to really make the dent that we think needs to be made,” said Anderson.

On Thursday, you’ll hear about the mental health issues that are impacting Hoosiers the most.