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One of four Americans suffers with some form of mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Media Relations director Bob Carolla says one of the biggest challenges is that treatment and services are more limited in lower-income areas.

“Generally, there’s not enough access to mental health care,” Carolla said. “It’s been particularly brutal during the economic recession that we’re coming out of.”

Carolla says many states cut mental-health funding during the Recession, but Arizona fared better than most. He says that was because of the advocacy of Governor Jan Brewer. This year, lawmakers approved $39 million in new funding for the seriously mentally ill who do not qualify for Medicaid.