Thank you to the Globe Spotlight Team for “The broken covenant,’’ which shines a light on the complex and sensitive topic of mental health care.

While we are offended by the Spotlight series’ focus on linking violence to those suffering from mental illness, we agree with much that was written about the chronic underfunding of a mental health care system that leaves so many people without the care that they desperately need. Members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Massachusetts experience daily the negative consequences of low insurance reimbursement rates and lack of systemic coordination that result in outpatient mental health care facilities closing and the number of available hospital beds being reduced.

As the Globe acknowledged, the Baker administration has made initial, though modest, steps to address these problems, but more aggressive steps are needed. It is important to remember that we do not need to start from scratch. There are successful programs already in place — the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative and the Program of Assertive Community Treatment are examples — but they are all too often inadequately funded and narrowly disseminated.

We must provide high-quality, affordable, and effective mental health care to those who need it most, but it will take much more funding than is currently in the system.

Laurie Martinelli

Executive director, NAMI Mass

Boston