AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers plan to hear expert testimony on how to improve the state’s mental health programs.
Mental illness is one of the biggest problems facing the Texas health care system. State-run mental health facilities don’t have enough beds and the majority of people in county jails require some form of mental health treatment.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee plans to meet this morning to discuss what the Legislature can do about it.
On Tuesday, experts told the committee that the people with mental illness and substance abuse problems are the most frequently re-admitted patients. Local hospital administrators and sheriffs complain they spend too much time and money dealing with people who have treatable mental illnesses.
But lawmakers will also likely face another budget shortfall next year.
Comments (12)
Add commentI imagine that the Texas GOTP legislature
will address the mental health issue as it has addressed the other issues of the "least of" Texas citizens; by cutting funding.
If they don't want to be punished for being mentally ill, they should choose not to be mentally ill.
Ross
You know, I just get so sick of your constant drumbeat, and your complete unwillingness to face up the the fact that it just WONT' WORK.
If we keep on going like we are right now, we'll go over the financial cliff and the whole system will crash. Then there will be NO ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS AT ALL.
If we cut the military to keep spending on these programs at its present level, we won't be able to defend ourselves. Soon some other nation will crash the system for us, and then there will be NO ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS AT ALL.
Your kind of thinking got us where we are today, under a president who has run up more debt than his predecessor did, and in LESS THAN HALF THE TIME. He hasn't got a clue.
Now which do you think would be better for all these people you want so badly to help? Reduced social programs, or NO ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS AT ALL?
You are not going to be able to avoid the choice for much longer. Which will it be - hard times, or total disaster? Those are the only two choices at this point.
I guess the folks dealing with mental illness
can continue to be locked up in jails and prisons, as has been the case.
It would probably be better if they all just died though huh. Apparently, they're entitled to nothing from us.
A pretty high percentage of those dealing with mental illness are vets dealing with mental illnesses they developed protecting our country and society. Quite a few of those are homeless or incarcerated also.
Too bad we got all that money to pay for waging wars, but not enough to help the folks who pay for waging wars with their minds and bodies.
Apparently, they're not entitled to anything from US either.
Jesus was said to have cared about the lame, mentally ill, poor, and diseased. Why are you so against those same people?
They'll soon get nothing!
They'll soon be getting NOTHING AT ALL, if you liberals don't wake up! That's what lies dead ahead if things keep on being done your way and the whole system crashes!
What would Jesus think of people who foolishly squandered ALL their ability to help the lame, mentally ill, poor, and diseased? At least the conservatives would try to preserve SOMETHING for them!
And what would He say about a political group who loudly CLAIMED to be in favor of helping the downtrodden, but actually only wanted the votes they could buy from their exploitation? That's your dems!
I really wish there were a
I really wish there were a way to differentiate between the coke heads taking advantage of this care and the people who genuinely need help and can't take care of themselves... It's really sad that there are so many jerks out there that are basically stealing from the people that actually need this care.
Marcus Aemelius Scaurus
Marc, why did you shout at that liberal that way?
Certainly he's wrong ---I disagree with everything about the liberal philosophy. However, I guarantee you won't change his mind by treating him that way. If you show respect for someone, you can reason with him. Otherwise he'll just walk away from you. Please take this advice from a fellow Christian believer.
Have a blessed day, Marc.
adunn
Ok
I won't shout,
just try to talk some sense into people with so much hate.
Obama offered to lean very far right to make a budget deal with the GOP. There are no "radical" Democrats in the Senate, no one calling for a militant socialist take over, the abolishment of free enterprise, the abolishment of all firearms or a toothless military.
The right wing of the GOP meanwhile wants to dismantle the social service and equal rights net woven with great valor and determination by enlightened politicians of several generations, makes frequent allusions to trying/impeaching/harming Obama, brands him a power-hungry Communist and radical Muslim, and refuses ANY compromise to destroy him, the country be damned.
Why Marcus hates liberals or just Democrats (and President Obama) is a mystery that I can only blame on brainwashing false "reporting" and false internet mass e-mails.
VOTE NO TO RANDY
vote no to randy and write in gramps5942
and MAS you are wrong again the health plan will work if the got (nazi party) had their way they would get rid of all that does not believe their way
vote no to randy and yes to obama
vote no to randy
Embarrassed Texan
I disagree. I will try to do it "respectfully", but I do disagree.
I do not believe there can ever be enough money from taxes to pay for all the programs without ruinous debt. If the country's finances completely collapse, then there won't be any more programs at all.
I don't hate you, I just believe what you advocate can never work.
Adunn
Where you been hiding at? I haven't seen you on here in a while.
@running4district2
Politics were causing me to act and speak in ways I knew a Christian shouldn't, so I've stopped discussing them so much. I'll be around from time to time, mostly on religious threads.
How have you been?