Don’t delay fixing mental health system

A recent writer was wrong. It is not forgiveness but instead the failed responsibility of the mental health system. Forgiveness is difficult for those who failed Mark Becker through inadequate treatment, few supports and unwillingness to pay taxes or enact laws to treat his illness.

Elsewhere, more options are available. For example, Oklahoma's mental health care provides innovations and basic programs, evidence-based practices, efficient emergency wait-times and sufficient numbers of psychiatric beds.

But Iowa, which spent only 0.2 percent of its budget on mental health in 2006, doesn't cover many treatments. Cutting the state's mental health care system is devastating to individuals, families and our communities. Our state's mental health care crisis and solution is everyone's responsibility.

Mental illness improvements cannot wait until we are faced with tragedy, economy improvement or after we take care of all other issues. We must strengthen our state's mental health care system.

Carol Porch

Iowa City