Massachusetts to Cut Mental Health Services

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

BOSTON - November 19, 2008 - In the recent budget cuts laid out by Governor Deval Patrick, almost four million dollars are coming from programs for people with chronic mental illness.

...


The people affected by these particular budget cuts suffer from severe and persistent mental illness: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, deep depression. Among them, and among the people who help them, there is disbelief that programs that seem to work so well are being eliminated. What is being cut are those programs that help people with severe and persistent mental illness rejoin the world and stay in it: support groups and job training.

The piece goes on to describe the fears health care workers and patients have about an increase in hospitalization and patients winding up on the street as a direct result of these cuts.

http://www.wbur.org/news/2008/81457_20081119.asp

[williesgirl]

1. Hard to believe and very sad. rec'd

[foxfeet]

2. This will wind up as cost-shifting onto the criminal justice system,

which is where lots of these folks wind up, usually for "nuisance" crimes. It is short-sighted in many ways, foremost in the price paid by the people with mental illness.

[aquart]

3. A depression is always the best time to do that.

In anticipation of demand, as it were.

[midnight]

4. That makes sense doesn't it?

[aquart]

5. You betcha.

Although it will up the number of successful suicides which will, of course, release pressure on the government and social security to provide for these people...so it's quite practical.