AUGUSTA — The country is falling behind in providing services to people with mental illnesses, a nationally known advocate for mentally ill people told local mental health service providers Wednesday night.

Maine, however, appears to be ahead of the pack, he said.

Overall, the United States’ health care system for people with serious mental illnesses scored a “D” in a 2006 evaluation published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In the same report, Maine earned a grade of “B minus,” one of five states to place in the “B” range.

But if the state wants to maintain its national position in providing services to mentally ill people, Michael J. Fitzpatrick, NAMI’s executive director, told a local group of mental health service providers Wednesday night, Maine must reverse a trend of funding cuts to mental health service programs.