“Mental Health…Can’t we do better?” League of Oregon Cities, Local Focus December 2014…Quote from page 14, It’s Time to Bend the Trend by Cherryl Ramirez
Contrary to those with other chronic conditions like diabetes
and heart disease, people with chronic mental health and substance
use disorders have been criminalized. The difference is,
in part, that people with untreated mental illness may act in
ways that seem frightening or threatening to the general public.
According to the National GAINS Technical Assistance
and Policy Analysis (TAPA) Center for jail diversion, “when
effective treatment is available, people with mental disorders
and without substance use problems present no greater risk to
the community than people in the general population.”
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This is my first posting as a newly elected Depoe Bay, Oregon, City Councilor. It is fitting and timely to use the League of Oregon Cities Local Focus publication, entitled Mental Health, Can’t we do better? as a reference.
I attended my first workshop in Manzanita, Oregon, this last week to receive training as a newly elected official. The training was very valuable as I hit the ground running. A big picture view of Oregon legislative priorities for 2015 was presented to help focus on the larger issues of our great State of Oregon, including mental health.
As a new Depoe Bay, Oregon City Councilor with a personal interest in mental health awareness. I am putting a special focus on this important topic during my term in office. Following are some of the actions we are taking in Oregon and in local communities like Depoe Bay to do more in providing improved mental health services.
Quote from page 29 of the referenced LOC Local Focus…
• Preventative mental health care in the form of “drop-in”
services should be available to all Oregonians regardless
of where they live.
The League believes that access to urgent care for mental
health will allow those suffering from an illness or condition
to be triaged and receive immediate treatment or
where appropriate, referrals for treatment. This will avert
unnecessary, unhealthful and sometimes tragic interactions
with law enforcement personnel.
• Proactive, mobile crisis intervention should be available
statewide.
The mobile crisis intervention approach has reduced
negative encounters between police and the mentally ill.
Resources should be provided so such services are available
throughout the state.
• Every police officer in the state of Oregon should have
access to training in how to respond to a mental health
crisis.
The state should provide public safety personnel with access
to instructions from mental health professionals that
would equip officers with skills to respond in a way that
de-escalates conflict and helps the affected individual and
their family receive appropriate care.
• The number of regional residential mental health facilities
should be expanded.
Jail should not be the only option to secure an individual
experiencing a mental health crisis. Safe and secure mental
health care beds will allow those in need to avoid jail,
which could worsen their condition.
It is an honor for me to serve the citizens of greater Depoe Bay, Oregon for the next 4 years. As a rural community we have many challenges in community building and in sustaining the precious legacy of our town. We are also focused on economic development and providing state of the art infrastructure utilities and services.
In addition to my regular blog postings on the topic of Children and Families in Life After Trauma, I will be providing updates on more global mental health issues related to rural communities. I am grateful for the support of my community of friends, followers, and family who read this blog. Please share your comments at the end of this posting.
Steve Sparks, Author, Reconciliation: A Son’s Story and My Journey of Healing in Life After Trauma, Part 1… Click the highlighted text for my author page…
