This Executive Summary to the 2017 report to Congress shines the spotlight on the critical issues and services for Americans with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and serious emotional disturbances (SED). The 2017 report to congress represents the starting point in a five-year process of improving the lives of people with SMI and SED. This 8-page summary delineates the five focus areas, each with 8-10 recommendations. These recommendations are from the non-federal members and represent common areas in which federal partners and stakeholders can work together to implement over the next five years.

This report shines the spotlight on the critical issues and services for Americans with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and serious emotional disturbances (SED), and the importance of concerted efforts by the federal government to address their needs. The report presents the current status of federal activities and a summary of advances in the care and treatment of people with SMI and SED. The report describes key advances in research and strategies to improve services to these individuals based on presentations given by the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) members at the first ISMICC meeting.

This report highlights the structure, responsibilities, policies, services, and financing of single-state agencies and state mental health agencies. The report includes discussion of efforts to integrate physical and behavioral health and efforts by state agencies to address opioid abuse and misuse.