Letter: Communities need to build robust mental health services

Published 7:54 am Tuesday, October 3, 2017

I would like to disagree with Sheriff Amazi’s statement that our mental health system is broken. (“Minnesota’s mental heath system broken, sheriff says,” Austin Daily Herald, Saturday, Sept. 30).

The fact is, it was never built. Discriminatory policies under Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance led to a reliance on block grants to provide mental health care — a losing solution. Over the past 20 years, advocates, providers and others have been working hard to build the community mental health system — mental health centers, crisis services, in-home services and more. “Beds” —  the most expensive part of our system —  are not necessarily the answer. We need to look at why someone’s mental health reached a crisis point. Were they unable to see a mental health professional for three months or more? Did they have trouble getting their prescription filled? Did they lose their job or housing?

Working to build robust mental health services in each community is what will more effectively address this issue. The state-run programs are designed for people who need longer term treatment in a secure setting — it’s the community health and mental health providers that need to grow in order to meet the demand.

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— Sue Abderholden, St. Paul

Executive Director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Minnesota