Mental health care is ripe with knowledge, methods, talent and potential. Yet again: Mental illness rises while psychiatric beds, clinics, group homes and staff are reduced or eliminated.
Why is this important?
I am a semi-retired, licensed mental health counselor who spent 35 years in the public system: the courts, the prisons, the involuntary system, the community clinics and group homes, Red Cross disaster programs, programs for combat vets, programs for immigrants and refugees. Mental health care in general and public mental health in particular has never been adequately supported, funded or represented for what it truly is--an utterly necessary service intrinsic to modern societies. It's time--
