Edit: Idaho Ignores Warning, Suffers
Nearly four years ago, the Idaho State Planning Council on Mental Health issued a warning: Continue to balance the budget on the backs of Idaho’s mentally ill and reap a whirlwind:
- More suicides.
- More conflicts between the mentally ill and law enforcement.
- And more work for the hospitals, including emergency rooms, as they respond to mental illness.
Its warning disregarded, the council watched as the budget-strapped Department of Health and Welfare closed some of its satellite offices in smaller communities and laid off 35 staffers, including 28 clinicians, from its Adult Mental Health Program/ Marty Trillhaase , Lewiston Tribune. More here.
Question: Does Idaho have the money to significantly address mental health problems in the state?
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog