Today’s news reported that $1.8b has been cut from state budgets for mental health services since 2009. Deeper cuts are expected in 2011 and 2012. http://usat.ly/hxRljt Many of you probably don’t remember, but it all started under President Regan when he pushed through severe cuts in mental health services that started the flood of psychiatric patients living on the streets of our major cities. I had just moved to New York City after college and rented a small Upper Westside apartment. This was way before this part of town was considered a desirable place to live. My roommate and I started a competition to see who could find the “craziest” person on their way home from work. It was usually a tie because there were just too many to choose from. Inpatient facilities had opened their doors and let institutionalized people out into the streets to fend for themselves. And the result of not funding outpatient treatment facilities in exchange for closing down inpatient centers has been the scourge of this generation: rampant homelessness.

Affordable and accessible mental health services are as important to this nation as finding ways to cover our citizens’ physical well-being. When people suffer from depression, addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia they need help — professional help. Otherwise, our streets are going to continue to be paved with the unwanted, disenfranchised and forgotten. Shame on us.

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