comment on this post with 50 words. One economic issue in mental health care is the unequal distribution of services based on income. Historically, wealthy individuals could afford private mental health care, while poor people were often placed in underfunded public institutions with limited treatment options (Mechanic, n.d.). This continues to impact low-income individuals today, who often struggle to access quality care. A second issue is the high cost of prescription drugs. Drug spending in mental health has grown the most among all services. In 2005, drug costs made up about one-fifth of all mental health spending. This greatly impacts patients who may not afford medications, leading to untreated conditions and poorer outcomes (Mechanic, n.d.). A third issue is the heavy reliance on public funding. In 2005, 58 percent of mental health funding came from public sources like Medicaid. Medicaid alone paid for about 28 percent of mental health costs. Because Medicaid rules and funding vary by state, people may get very different services depending on where they live (Mechanic, n.d.). This affects both patients and providers who must navigate inconsistent systems