Mentally Ill Need Community-Based Help

Re “Mind the Mentally Ill,” editorial, Oct. 6: I was gratified to read that Gov. Gray Davis signed AB 1424, a bill by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson (D-Davis) that will close a big hole in the state’s safety net for the seriously mentally ill. As the mother of a seriously mentally ill young man who is in complete denial of his illness, is not in treatment and is capable of acting somewhat normally for short periods, I have been continually frustrated in my attempts to get him back into treatment. I do, however, have many medical and psychiatric records that indicate the gravity of my son’s illness.

AB 1424 will enable me to start exploring the possibility of getting him back into treatment. I also realize that the state mental health system is far from perfect and that getting help for my son may require some effort. Yet, now, that possibility exists.

Liz Goldner

Costa Mesa

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I commend Davis, Thomson and Sen. Don Perata (D-Alameda) in their efforts to fight for the needs of our state’s mentally ill through various mental health reform bills (AB 1424 and SB 1059). These bills will, among other things, help counties fund community-based mental health treatment programs. These programs are important because, relative to the back wards of hospitals, community-based programs are better able to equip the mentally ill patient with important community-living skills that are needed for that individual to live successfully outside of a hospital setting. So, why are community-based treatment programs so difficult to establish and often vehemently opposed? In a word, the problem is NIMBY--not in my backyard!

I believe that the predominant reason behind NIMBY is fear. We tend to fear that which we do not understand. However, this is not a worthy excuse. It is critically important that we keep in mind the essence of the Fair Housing Act that protects the rights of all disabled individuals to live within the community. We cannot allow the mentally ill to continue to be the nation’s most unsupported constituency. We must support Davis, Thomson and Perata’s work by allowing new residences and treatment environments to be established in our communities.

Tracy Felger PhD

Clinical Psychologist

Santa Clarita