Washblog

I remember when the mentally ill were released onto the streets to fend for themselves - funding shortfalls and too full facilities (both mental health hospitals and prisons) were the cited reasons.   What decade was that, 70's, 80's ??

Once again, we reap what we sow, with wandering souls with soul wounds and few places to turn for help, they walk and live among us.

Blessings to all those with the internal fortitude, compassion, love of mankind that work in the ranks to help those who need so much more than a handout.  

Good news Doc - to see the pendulum swing back some.  I see the county where I live (Pacific) is not mentioned.  But then we are a sparsely populated county.  The mentally ill in our county go where....??  I'd love to believe we are so effective in our county that those with addiction/mental health issues get the help they need, so we don't need an infusion of $$.  But I rather believe they wind up in nearby counties (like yours, Doc, - Grays Harbor) that have 'facilities' we don't in Pacific County.

'Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? ~ Abraham Lincoln

by Lietta Ruger on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 09:12:50 AM PST

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and uncomplicated access to mental health care is one of the wisest community responses to health care needs ... perhaps only less in importance to the immediacy of the heroic medicine capability in emergent situations such as an ER.

I'm also certain that statewide, there is a hard-to-estimate population in need of but unable to access mental health counseling; short-term or long-term treatment that more than likely includes access to appropriate medications.

Where do they go?

In most cases one of the first stops is the local DSHS offices immediately before or right after being turned away by mental health organizations who lack sufficient funding resources (income or other) to allow non-fee services.

In some instances those providers feel forced to flat out refuse to see patients beyond an emergent (for example, suicidal thoughts or behavior) context without medical coverage.

What Doc is talking about in those counties is something we might only dream about out here.

Arthur
What they inwardly imagine is the only thing they'll accept.

by Arthur Ruger on Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 09:28:40 AM PST

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In Grays Harbor County where I practice those with significant mental illness are managed by a group called Behavioral Health Resources.  They have an office in Aberdeen and a small one in Elma.  For a while we were down to one part time psychiatric nurse practitioner for the entire county.  I believe now we've added back another part time psychiatrist.  BHR does only take those patients on Medicaid/Medicare.  I do not believe there is a private psychiatrist in the entire county.  As one could imagine much of the mental health treatment falls to primary care physicians.

by The Country Doc on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 06:27:19 AM PST

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