With the state readjusting its budget, Pennsylvania's Mental Health/Mental Retardation Coalition is voicing its concern over being forced to operate with less funding.

The group wrote a letter to state Governor Edward Rendell stating the importance of the services it offers. The MH/MR Coalition said it has been underfunded and shouldn't have to face a budget cut.

"We are very concerned that decreased funds from the federal government will result in another round of cuts to programs for people in Pennsylvania who live with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders," said Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania executive director Sue Walther. "This should not happen when there are other line items in the state budget that increased during the initial budgeting phase."

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 26.2 percent of Americans over the age of 18 have a mental disorder in any given year. Cutting funding and services to the mentally ill may ultimately end up costing more in the long run if their conditions get worse.