The legislative panel formed after the tragic suicide of a state senator’s son who was denied hospitalization has endorsed policy recommendations made by its gubernatorial counterpart. However, the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services also acknowledged the state’s harsh budget realities—and set its top priorities for the upcoming General Assembly session.
To improve emergency care, the members endorse expanding crisis assessment and stabilization centers statewide. They seek to improve training for those who evaluate patients in crisis and resources for family members. Delegate Rob Bell says another goal is to change how patients are transported, which is often carried out by deputies.
“That can take him away for the whole night, and in many places there literally are only one or two deputies on duty. So you’ve taken away 50 percent or 100 percent of the law enforcement.”
Panel chairman and Senator Creigh Deeds also says more health information should be shared.
“When you’ve got a child who’s 18 or 19 who says, ‘It’s none of your business, I’m going to do what I want to do,’ and you, as a parent, have the responsibility basically to see that that child gets care, it’s tough.”
Deeds says the endorsements should help some bills win funding and support.