More Mentally Ill Becoming Homeless Because States Won’t Help

[marmar]

More Mentally Ill Becoming Homeless Because States Won’t Help

Monday, 06 May 2013 11:26
By Piper Hoffman, Care2 | Op-Ed


State governments across the United States are slashing funding for services for the mentally ill. The unsurprising result is more mentally ill people without homes.

Mother Jones reports that “between 2009 and 2012, states cut a total of $4.35 billion in public mental-health spending from their budgets.” South Carolina cut nearly 40 percent of its budget for mental health. In Illinois it was close to 32 percent.

Alabama plans to close most of its psychiatric hospitals. Where will those patients go? They will join their fellow sufferers on the streets. The reasons, as described by The National Coalition for the Homeless, are obvious:

Serious mental illnesses disrupt people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life, such as self care and household management. Mental illnesses may also prevent people from forming and maintaining stable relationships or cause people to misinterpret others’ guidance and react irrationally. This often results in pushing away caregivers, family, and friends who may be the force keeping that person from becoming homeless. As a result of these factors and the stresses of living with a mental disorder, people with mentally illnesses are much more likely to become homeless than the general population

While 6 percent of the general population is severely mentally ill, one-third of homeless people have untreated mental illnesses. The New York Times wrote in 1998 that there were so many mentally ill homeless people in Berkeley, California, “it’s like a mental ward on the streets.” In Roanoke, Virginia, 70 percent of homeless people had mental health problems, and the homeless population there grew 363 percent over 20 years. Last month Hawaii News Now reported that 60% of homeless people in one survey were mentally ill. That is ten percent more than in 2012. In San Luis Obispo, California, 64 percent of homeless people who sought help were mentally ill. There were probably others not mentally capable of seeking help, who would have increased that percentage. ......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/16193-more-mentally-ill-becoming-homeless-because-states-wont-help

[madrchsod]

1. the lady in the harbor weeps......

[HereSince1628]

2. The lady in the harbor is like many Americans...

A hollowed out point of observation existing as an island disconnected from and too far distant from the lives of others to see the details of the troubles in American life.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

5. No, she is not.

She is screaming at the top of her lungs in hopes that people will listen. She prays that they remember that "We The People" are the power and for us not to/ stop give(ing) that precious thing away.

The statue is hollow for the sprit is in the land, trying to get us to remember.

ADD: We must take care of each other. We must demand the government to take care of the less fortunate and to work of our best interest.

[HereSince1628]

6. You are of course entitled to your dreams

[Wednesdays]

3. K & R

[undergroundpanther]

4. Gov O'Mally a dem

here in Maryland TOOK back funds he ALREADY GAVE to state mental health services,he's a narcissistic kind of ass I won't be voting for him.he's a fucking liar if he gives funds he takes them away at the last minute the fucker.. Fuck him he shouldn't be let out to run anywhere near the potus.

http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/mental-health-advocates-outraged-by-lack-of-state-funding-for-psychiatric-care-cuts-in-governors-budget/2013/04/05