Budget Cuts to Mental Health Services: At What Cost?

I write this just a few hours after having spoken at a legislative breakfast in Connecticut, where looming budget cuts seem aimed at "saving money" by cutting funding to non-profit agencies that provide needed services to people who have disabilities or disadvantages ranging from poverty to down's syndrome to mental illness...people who, with these services, have a chance to rebuild their dignity, their potential, their futures.

Without these services? The costs are astronomical - financially as well as emotionally. Homelessness, hopelessness, aimlessness, illness relapse, even crime.

And here we are, moments later, hearing the news that another shooting has occured - this time in our own backyard, in Newtown CT. A shooter has opened fire in an elementary school. An elementary school.

Does this have anything to do with untreated mental illness? I have no idea, yet - but it is one of the first things that comes to my mind.

[caption id="attachment_1237" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="Children Led From Newtown CT School"][/caption]

It had something to do with shootings in Aurora, in Arizona, and with other reported violent incidents - practically the only press mentions about schizophrenia, the illness that also affects my son Ben.

But Ben is in treatment for schizophrenia. With upcoming budget cuts, he may lose some of that treatment. Ben, lucky for the world, has never ever been violent, even when psychotic. And in general (while we are myth-busting), those with treated mental illness are no more violent than anyone else.

But cutting or denying services that clearly provide supervision, medical treatment, supported hope in the form of housing, education, purpose and community - resulting in hope and potential? That is just plain crazy.

Mental Illness Stigma - What Do We Publicize?

Again, I don't know anything yet about the gunman. But the stigma of media coverage of past shootings, coupled with the fear that short-sighted legislators will make themselves look good by "balancing" the budget at the cost of my son's future - and the futures of all those he will be able to help in a positive way, as he now does - that results in my immediate suspicion that untreated mental illness may be part of this story.

And that is ridiculous. Funded services work - and, quite possibly, save lives even beyond the people who receive them.

As always, thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this needless tragedy, as we await more word.

Treatment Works, but Treatment Must Continue

Let's wake up and prevent this from happening again. We need access to treatment options, more research into medical treatment, programs to build on strength and potential - and assisted outpatient treatment to ensure that those who need help can and must receive it.

Stop the madness of sacrificing futures for budget cuts that ultimately are more costly than anyone can imagine...and the stigma that surrounds receiving such help.

And, once in a while, can we spotlight the people whose lives are currently full and productive if they receive the treatment they need? Some positive role models can illustrate that treatment works, but treatment must continue. the cost of not doing so just might be unimaginable.