Action | Mental Health Skill-building Services |
Stage | Emergency/NOIRA |
Comment Period | Ended on 12/11/2013 |
Who's next is my question? I have worked in Law Enforcement for 6 years and as a QMHP-A for the past 6 years and when it comes to criteria for those eligible, this new change will increase our jail and hospital populations. Working with inmates who show visible symptoms of mental health illnesses could greatly benefit from MHSS services, but will continue to cycle through our judicial system without the services. I work with several clients who have mental illnesses that have experienced prison incarceration before being assessed for MHSS and when released, they come back into the community experiencing even greater symptoms of mental illness. I can testify firsthand to seeing this cycle being broken with the assistance, training, and encouragement that MHSS provides. If you implement these changes for mental health services, be prepared to experience the overwhelming negative consequences of people with mental illnesses becoming unstable and unable to live independently. Look past cost efficiency and take awareness of the long term goal. As a mental health provider I value everyday to see the clients I work with obtain independent stability so that they can rise above their mental illness and achieve the greatness they were destined for. I ask again Who is next? Don't let these people fall through the cracks but instead, give them every opportunity to receive the help they need.