EDITORIAL: Mental health system requires urgent action
ColumbianFeb 03, 2019
Many
Some of their stories were told recently in a series of articles in The Columbian. Focusing on the efforts of a local group of mothers trying to find adequate help for their mentally ill children, the articles provide a close look at the struggles of families confronted by bureaucracy and an affliction that remains easily ignored in terms of public understanding and public policy.
Unlike somebody who is suffering from, say, cancer or heart disease, mentally ill people typically are not cognizant of their illness or able to assist with treatment. That compounds the difficulties faced by family members seeking help.
Gov.
According to the
--Adjustments to the state's Involuntary Treatment Act, which allows for the civil commitment of afflicted people. It is difficult for families to find help even when a loved one is unstable, leaving patients in a spiral of declining health. While there must be consideration for individual rights, the law should reflect the fact that mentally ill people are unlikely to volunteer for medical help.
--Improved training for law enforcement officers. It is unrealistic to expect officers to play the role of medical professional and social worker in addition to the important duties they already have. But many law enforcement agencies have recognized that training can help officers defuse tense situations when dealing with somebody who is suffering a psychotic episode, and that leading those people toward the proper treatment is crucial. Most importantly, sending a mentally ill person to a jail that is not equipped to deal with their illness exacerbates the problem.
--More local facilities to keep patients close to their support system of family and friends. This is one of the foundations of Inslee's proposal, recognizing that isolation far from home makes it more difficult to address the illness.
--Changes to
As legislators consider Inslee's proposal, they must act with urgency. Because all too often,
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