mental health care slashed

[DrBenway]

This is very sad. The chronically mentally ill don't vote and have few advocates. They don't abuse the system; their needs are real. Assistance with basic needs and some form of work or work-like daytime activity doesn't cost a lot, and takes a large burden off emergency rooms and local police.

IOTA, La., May 2 — With Louisiana running low on cash, lawmakers are considering cuts at state centers housing more than 1,600 mentally retarded and disabled people. Louisiana is not alone — thirty states have already slashed mental health funding this year and more cuts are on the way. Researchers worry the reduction in spending could lead to a rise in everything from the number of homeless on the streets to rising crime rates.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/908582.asp?0bl=-0

[Cleopatra]

I have a special affection for mentally ill people. The reason is that I often see criminals of worse kind ( I name criminals of worse kind, first,those who abuse, sexually, children and then, murderers) evoking mental illness in order to avoid the punishment and when it comes to really sick people, we exhaust our severity to them...

Now I read that States started cuting funds to the mental institutions...

So, I think I am right when I am saying that we still live in the Middle ages.

[subgenius]

Originally posted by DrBenway
This is very sad. The chronically mentally ill don't vote and have few advocates. They don't abuse the system; their needs are real. Assistance with basic needs and some form of work or work-like daytime activity doesn't cost a lot, and takes a large burden off emergency rooms and local police.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/908582.asp?0bl=-0 [/B]
Its Dark Ages, bean-counting. Will cost more in the long run. And the cost in human sufferring will be enormous. Where is the compassion? Its easy to pick on the most defensless, just like a mugger would do.

[RandFan]

Originally posted by subgenius
Its Dark Ages, bean-counting. Will cost more in the long run. And the cost in human sufferring will be enormous. Where is the compassion? Its easy to pick on the most defensless, just like a mugger would do. Hmmmm.... I don't know, yes I agree that if it will cost more in the long run then the money should be spent now. Are there studies that show that it will cost more in the long run. I have seen figures for prenatal care and it is demonstrable that prenatal care saves over the long run.

Making financial decisions is difficult, it's damn near impossible if every decision will be followed by an accusation of "no compassion."

[DrBenway]

Originally posted by RandFan
Are there studies that show that it will cost more in the long run.
Not an easy thing to study. But think about this:

I consult at a neuro-rehab program for kids with brain injury/chronic mental disorders. This program is in New Hampshire, yet it includes patients from Virginia, Maryland, D.C., Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York and Delaware.

Why do those states pay for treatment so far from home? Because adequate treatment is not available locally.

Yet surely it would be more efficient to provide proper care in the child's home state, where family supports are available and local school districts can provide educational continuity.

I think someone along the way must have tried to save a buck by cutting local programs. Penny-wise, pound foolish decisions can often go years before they're recognized, and may take further years to rectify.

[Smalso]

The mentally ill make no campaign contributions and have no lobby to speak of, and very few of them vote. Besides that, there seems to be an attitude of, "out of sight, out of mind."

[JamesM]

Originally posted by Smalso
there seems to be an attitude of, "out of sight, out of mind."

Pun intended?

[RandFan]

Originally posted by Smalso
The mentally ill make no campaign contributions and have no lobby to speak of, and very few of them vote. Besides that, there seems to be an attitude of, "out of sight, out of mind." I personally don't buy the notion that liberals are just bleeding heart liberals. One of this countries greatest assets are those who really care about the disenfranchised. I believe we are a great nation because we have people who fight for those that might otherwise be overlooked.

That being said, you are right Smalso and not every social problem get addressed. Unfortunately some social problems are more "attractive" than others are.

This issue I think is important. And I think that it needs to be addressed. But accusing those who are trying to make decisions about finite resources of not being compassionate isn't necessarily true, it can however be effective politically but at a cost.

[Smalso]

RandFan:

This issue I think is important. And I think that it needs to be addressed. But accusing those who are trying to make decisions about finite resources of not being compassionate isn't necessarily true, it can however be effective politically but at a cost.

I agree; and, frankly, I am glad that I'm not the one who has to make some of those decisions. I cannot help but believe, however, that if the richest and most powerful country in the world can come up with billions to fight a war, it can certainly afford decent treatment for its mentally ill. As you say, it's not a really hot political issue.

[corplinx]

Being the hard hearted atheist I am, I have to propose my solution to this problem. Soylent Green.

[GrapeJ713]

Well, I usually don't believe in government programs, but mental health would fall under 'protecting the rights of citizens', because many mentally ill are dangers to others and themselves. I don't think states run many mental health facilities anymore so if the states paid for private hospitalization and gave the hospitals an incentive to take the patients in, I don't see why it wouldn't work unless the states didn't have any money. Seems like a cost/benefit analysis would show states that paying for mental health would be cheaper than locking people up in prison later on when they can't cope with society.
And the way to pay for it would be to stop the drug war. Wouldn't be any more wasteful spending stopping people from pursuing happiness, and states would have more revenue because they could have a liscencing and tax structure similiar to alcohol.

[Dancing David]

Unfortunatly the Grat Society has chosen to turn it's back on those living with persistant and severe mental illness.

Solutions:
More money for case management intervention.
Increase SSI, the income source for those who got ill young.
Better Medicaid benefits for individuals with psmi.
Community education that individuals with psmi are more likely to be victims of crime than the perpetrator.
Community education in genral about mental illness/brain disorders.

Peace
dancing David

[DrBenway]

Originally posted by Dancing David
Unfortunatly the Great Society has chosen to turn it's back on those living with persistant and severe mental illness.
Well, the patients with serious brain problems aren't much fun to hang with. I think most folks just don't want to think about them. That's understandable.

However, any of us might one day join their ranks --particularly those of us who like motorcycles or cars (I just finished talking to a 10 year old boy whose face looks like a jigsaw puzzle, from a car accident a couple of years ago.). So, there's something to be said for, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."