Mental health spending is wise investment

By Tracy Velazquez - 03/01/2007

The Montana Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services recommended long-overdue increases in funding for community mental health programs. Mental health advocates, including the Montana Mental Health Association, worked hard to educate legislators about the critical need to improve community-based mental health services. Many consumers of mental health care traveled from across the state to testify; we applaud the sub- committee members for listening to the testimony and positively responding.

Funding mental health is good not just for those suffering mental illness, but all Montanans. Here are a few reasons why: Montana has the second highest suicide rate in the nation. Most suicides can be linked to untreated or under-treated mental health problems. Funding specifically for suicide prevention, as well as increased funding for community services including crisis facilities and treatment, will reduce the terrible toll suicides take on individuals, families, and communities around our state.

Our state has a high rate of substance abuse; methamphetamine has been a particular scourge during the past decade. Substance abuse is often linked to untreated mental illnesses, as those who cannot access mental health services self-medicate. Improving our treatment for substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses, and ensuring that those who need mental health treatment can get it before they turn to illegal drugs, will help reduce drug abuse in our state n again reducing the number of people whose lives are wrecked by substance abuse, and reducing the costs to the state of punishing drug offenders.

Lack of community mental health services is directly related to our state’s rising populations in our mental and correctional institutions. Often the first time someone is treated for a mental illness is when they are arrested or present at the state mental hospital. Lack of local services causes many individuals with mental illnesses to “recycle” between the community (where they may end up homeless) and prison.

Increases to community mental health services and to services for those with mental illness who are re-entering the community from the state mental hospital or prison will help break these cycles, reducing the costs of institutionalization and increasing the number of individuals who are able to be productive, taxpaying members of society.

Today, we know that mental illness often stems from biological causes and that, if properly treated, persons with mental illness can and do recover — at recovery rates similar to, and sometimes higher than, those for other major medical conditions. However, the stigma around mental illness is still strong. Much work must still be done to reduce the stigma, promote early childhood intervention, and transform our system so that it is primarily driven by mental health consumers and their families. This work will involve not just government, but also consumers, mental health service area authorities, advocacy organizations, and mental healthcare providers.

We know the Legislature must make tough decisions. But right now, too many families are losing loved ones to suicide and addiction. And too little money is being invested in early childhood detection and intervention and community-based mental health services — causing more individuals to end up at the state hospital or prison at a substantially higher cost.

Every dollar invested in mental health care now will be many dollars saved later. And it will mean more dollars earned when people get the treatment they need so they can work and pay taxes.

We urge the Legislature and Gov. Brian Schweitzer to support the subcommittee’s recommended increases for the mental health care system. It’s the right thing to do for people with mental illness, and the right thing to do for Montana.

— Tracy Velazquez is executive director of the Montana Mental Health Association. Molly Protheroe, association president, also assisted with this piece.