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It isn't civil rights that are limiting treatment for people with severe mental illness.  It's money.  We have a chronically underfunded community mental health system, a state hospital under investigation by the US Department of Justice and a $2.5 million shortfall coming up in the next state budgeting cycle.  We need to use the money we have more wisely by investing in housing and wrap-around services for adults and children in the community.  Forced treatment in a huge facility is a costly failure, not a solution.

posted 2 years ago
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