Commentary: Fairview center should continue to serve the mentally ill

I recently toured the Fairview Developmental Center Property and was struck by the scope and utility of much of the campus.

Orange County is woefully underequipped to deal with mental illness, and the homeless problem is a disgrace in one of the wealthiest places on earth. We have lost 65% of our acute care mental health beds and gained 35% in population since 1995. And yet the incidence of mental illness is growing.

Here are some current numbers on mental health beds:

Nationally 1: 2,550 people

California 1: 5,675 people

Orange County 1: 8,875 people

There are more than 1,200 empty beds at Fairview, and the facility is scheduled to be closed in 2021. It is fully equipped to care for the most developmentally disabled. And yet the developers and state would tear it down, possibly for more housing.

The layout of the campus would allow small portions to be set aside for use. One of those uses should be mental health care. We at the National Alliance on Mental Illness strongly believe that this must be a priority.

We cannot afford to tear down perfectly useful facilities when we are in crisis. There are referendums coming up in Costa Mesa, and there seems to be a lot of backroom discussion and decision-making.

MATT HOLZMANN is chairman of Government Relations for the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Orange County.