Michael Moline
A bipartisan coalition of House members and senators endorsed Gov. Rick Scott’s request to increase mental health funding by $25 million, but said even more money is needed to move Florida out of the basement in funding for treatment.
“At the end of the day, we’re 49th (in funding among the states), which means we’ve neglected this for far too long,” Sen. Rene Garcia said.
“This has to be a priority,” he said. “It’s costing us way too much money by not funding the system. It’s a matter of educating legislators, educating the leadership, and putting the pressure on to ensure that we get that money.”
“This is the biggest crisis in this country,” Rep. Kathleen Peters said.
“Mental illness and addiction are consuming resources out of every system in government at every level in government,” she said.
“It is the No. 1 reason that health care costs are rising. It is the No. 1 thing consuming all of the resources of our court system, our jail and prison systems, of our law enforcement system. It is the No. 1 reason children are taken away from their families and put into DCF.”
Also attending the news conference were Republican House member Mike Miller and Democrats Carlos Smith and Katie Edwards. Republican Victor Torres was there, too.
Last year, the Legislature pumped an additional $63 million into mental health services, Peters said. It also passed SB 12, which coordinated involuntary commitment programs for people with mental and addiction problems, and required counties to coordinate services by local agencies.
She hopes to find money to attract a substantial federal match for services, she said.
“It’s going to take money. It’s going to take effort. It’s going to take a lot of the conversations we’re going to have on the floor during the next 58 days,” Miller said.
Alisa LaPolt, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Tallahassee office, held up a thick ring binder containing three months’ phone transcripts and emails from people worried about family members.
“I fear that if he gets any worse, there is no option for me but to call 911, and it will be another situation of them taking him away,” one man told of his son. “This is heavy on my shoulders and my soul.”
“Multiply this by 12 months and 28 chapters (of her organization), and this is what we’re dealing with.”
Rick Marquis, attending the news conference with his wife, Kathleen, recounted their struggles to find help for their own son, diagnosed at 21 with schizophrenia. One specialist recommended the family move to another state that funds mental health treatment better.
“And, by the way, as a Floridian, I am not particularly proud of hearing that statement,” he said.
4 comments
Karen Fredricks
March 11, 2017 at 12:46 am
Thankyou Representative Peters
Yes we are 49th per capita in spending but in addition we would have to look at every other doorway that is being used
Whether it is other health issues, substance abuse, jails, prisons, housing, ….. add those numbers up and as tax payers we are all paying a great deal more with deplorable outcomes… can we do better …. Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!
Put that money from each of those systems and create a System of Care where access and interventions are Coordinated . Ensure that our providers are quality personnel that are payed a living wage commensurate with their skill …. then and only then will we in the State of Florida be able to hold our head up…. knowing that we are providing care that offers hope to individuals and families.
Lily Rivera
March 11, 2017 at 12:18 pm
We need to help those who don’t understand what is happening to them as they go through a crisis. I called the police 👮 4 times to take my son to the hospital to get help and each time i had to argue with them because he was not hurting himself or others and therefore they could not
take him. My poor confused as to what was happening to him. With tears in my eyes i would see the police leave time and time again and my poor son in a psychotic state. The feeling of hopelessness and abandonment in a time of crisis is overwhelming. I can not be describe how as care takers we feel. My si
ran away
from home and flew to California. By the grace ofGod he ended up ina mental hospital that did not release him after 3 days. He was hospitalized for 9 days, given the correct medication. and has been backtaking his meds, going yo his Psychiatrist in his own and going back to school. If they get help, they can move on with theoa lives. Please continue to fund Mental Healrh programs and it will cost you less in the end.
El
March 17, 2017 at 3:48 pm
Sick and tired of my severely M.i. son’s needs not being met by FL’s deficit mental health care system.
Sarah Hunt
March 21, 2017 at 12:54 pm
I am friends of the Marquises, and know of the on-going, uphill battle that they face. God bless them and others in such situations. It is embarrassing to think that my home state is 49th in the nation in funding Mental Health programs.
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