Mental health system is broken

I would like to respond to Theresa Grahm-Mineart's Feb. 7 letter to put a human face on the mental health crisis in this state. I am a 26-year-old man who has been diagnosed with multiple mental health problems starting at a young age. This transitional funding is essential for people like me to continue to get the medicine and services that we need.

Right now, I don't feel like I am getting the help I need and one of the reasons is that the system is overburdened. I have been in and out of jail and prison most of my adult life. I am sitting in the Linn County Jail awaiting a hearing to find out if I go back to prison or not. I will tell you this, the Department of Corrections' mental health system is even more broken than the public system. I know that with the right treatment I can get better. But how will I receive that treatment if we are ignored and denied the funding that we desperately need? All that I ask is that our lawmakers listen.

Eric Smith

Linn County Jail