The Year of Mental Health?

The Year of Mental Health?

By Elizabeth A. Smith, East Hartland

The Year of Mental Health has been "Rolandized"! Governor John Roland proclaimed a dwindling surplus as the reason for drastic cuts in funding for programs that save people’s lives. These are dollars and programs that provide essential care to seriously ignored Connecticut citizens. In truth, our Connecticut citizens who have a mental illness are ignored only until their lack of dependable and quality care propels one of them into the spotlight.

These now imploding funds for strikingly pragmatic and essential programs were close enough to grasp. The legislature and the governor had approved the funding dollars. Real and hurting ill friends and family members were going to actually get the solid, honest care they deserve and need! All Connecticut people need these dollars to be preserved and used only for persons with a mental illness. These funds are indeed preventive medicine.

Despite legislation, despite obvious need, Governor Roland prefers to target mental health programs with damaging cuts in an area of care that is already disintegrating. What kind of reasoning can prompt such a decision? Is it that "S" word? You know that word. It sounds like enigma.

Elizabeth Smith is president of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Northwest Connecticut. NAMI is a national organization dedicated to the support, education, and advocacy for families of and persons with mental illness.