Letter: State must address mental health

I am a probation/parole officer for the State of Iowa. I supervise many individuals who have significant mental health needs. As an example, I recently had to recommend a probationer with violations be revoked to prison because unfortunately there was no state mental health facility able to take this individual on, primarily due to waiting lists.

I don't believe this is an isolated incident. This trend will continue in Iowa. We rank last of all the states for mental health beds available per capita. We have 64 state beds for the mentally ill. Sixty percent of those beds are used by inmates in the correctional system. Gov. Terry Branstad has closed two state mental health facilities in Iowa leaving two to cover the needs of the entire state. The governor thinks he is saving the average taxpayer money; however, I believe he is kicking a dangerous can down the road. Sometimes I wonder if he has been exposed to someone with serious mental health needs? If he has, one might think his approach to mental health services would be different.

Jails and prisons should not be used as dumping grounds for the mentally ill. The mental health system is stressed with the governor's Medicaid changes. We owe it to those who suffer with serious mental health issues to provide immediate services. What will happen if the governor decides to close the last two state mental health facilities? Out of sight, out of mind, cannot be the approach, Gov. Branstad.

Jim Berger

Cedar Rapids