A SURVEY OF PREVENTION ACTIVITIES IN STATE MENTAL-HEALTH AUTHORITIES

A survey of state mental health authorities focused on the extent to which primary prevention activities were conducted or supported at the state level. All 50 states responded: 7 reported significant involvement in prevention, 7 reported some involvement, and 36 reported none. Factors relevant to the prevention activities in the two groups of involved states were explored: administrative structures for prevention, budgets, staffing, formal policies, scope of agency's mission, programs conducted, interagency collaboration, high-risk groups for programming, intervention strategies, and training. Although a small number of states are involved in significant prevention activities, few states have made a commitment to prevention. Recommendations are proposed to increase state-level mental health prevention-promotion efforts.