Mental Health and Substance Abuse Funding Cuts Proposed in CT

As I was catching up on the news this morning, I came across a disturbing story.

I heard this story reported on the local TV news over the weekend, and saw an article written by Susan Haigh of the AP and published by the Middletown Press.

You can read the article by clicking HERE.

CT Gov. Dannel Malloy has proposed cutting $25.5 milliion dollars of funding from a state grant program that helps community mental health and substance-abuse providers cover the gap for uninsured patients in the next fiscal budget. This has prompted an outcry from local mental health advocates.

I have personally seen how budget cuts have effected the healthcare industry in Western CT.

My brother is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Southbury. He has counseled men, women, and children directly involved with the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.

He has, at times, been limited in the number of visits that he can provide to his patients by the insurance companies. This budget cut would further limit the amount of services that he would be able to provide.

Connecticut does appropriate significant funding to Mental Health services. But, in my opinion, now is not the time to trim anything!

I've unfortunately spent a great deal of time in Waterbury Hospital recently, in particular, the emergency room. Every hour of every day, they are treating patients that honestly should not be there. People that would benefit so much more from a few hours of substance abuse counseling and treatment, rather than a medical doctor concentrating on their outward physical condition.

It's just not possible without help from our great state and federal government.

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