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Forum on Mental Health Crisis
Feb 14, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Ann M. Arnall, Deputy Director, Lee County Department of Human Services (239) 533-7930 FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WHEN: Sunday, February 18, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. WHERE: The Unitarian Universalist Church, 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers, Florida (Shire Lane is on the north side of Daniels Parkway between I-75 & Cross Creek) The pressing need for a TRIAGE CENTER in Lee County is the focus of this forum, which is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters-Lee County; Southwest Florida Addiction Services; The Salvation Army; Lee Mental Health and NAMI (National Alliance For Mental Illness). Representatives from these organizations, as well as law enforcement, will participate. To quote Human Services Director Karen Hawes, "Lee County has limited capacity to effectively treat persons who are homeless, have a mental illness, or are addicted to substances, due to inadequate emergency shelter beds, crisis stabilization and treatment services, and substance abuse services." Consider the following: - Florida ranks 48th in the nation in per capita mental health funding. - Lee County has NO inpatient hospital mental health beds. - Approximately 25% of Lee County Jail occupants have a diagnosed mental illness. - Those individuals with a mental illness spend an average of 15% longer in jail than similar offenders. - Individuals living with mental illness do not receive much needed treatment. - Law enforcement officials and facilities are inappropriately strained. - Out of $3.6 million requested last year for a Triage Center, $200,000 was allocated by the state. - The cost of untreated mental illnesses and substance abuse adversely impacts the entire community. The proposed Triage Center represents a partnership between Lee County Board of County Commissioners and three not-for-profit agencies that provide vital mental health, substance abuse and homeless services; Lee County Mental Health Center; Southwest Florida Addiction Services; and The Salvation Army. To quote County Commissioner Bob Janes, "We need to realize that it is not a crime to need mental health care, but it is a crime to treat people with mental illnesses as though they are criminals." PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT FORUM TO LEARN HOW YOUR VOICE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ALLEVIATING THIS CRITICAL SITUATION.
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