Budget cuts have real consequences for real people – consequences that will be felt for years to come. The crisis of the mental health system that the Children’s Mental Health Campaign and other advocates have spoken about in Massachusetts is one that is mirrored across the nation.
Today’s New York Times features a chilling story about the plight of young people with mental health needs who, for lack of proper resources and services, end up in prison.
The tragedy of these stories is that in many cases, incarceration could have been avoided. Early identification and treatment of mental illness is the most effective method of addressing mental health needs. Failure to take proactive measures results in a worsening of symptoms, an increase in the severity of the illness, and in some cases, involvement with the judicial system.
Estimates of the number of young people involved with the juvenile justice system who have a diagnosed mental health need run around 75%. However, in talking with officials charged with running the Department of Youth Services, many say that the actual number is much higher.
For the past year, our state has been faced with a severe economic crisis that has compelled Governor Patrick and the Legislature to make difficult budgetary decisions. The Department of Mental Health has been deeply cut, and services to its clients have been impacted.
It would be naïve to think that there will not be consequences from these cuts. Should we continue along the path we are now on, it is likely that we will see an increase in the number of children who become involved with the juvenile justice system. Prisons are not set up to provide mental health treatment. Even if the young people profiled in the article are able to complete their sentences, they will likely leave prison in worse shape than when they came in. The cycle will be harder to break.
Think for a minute about the impact – on the lives of the young people who will be locked up; on their families; on the state budget from the increased costs of imprisoning them.
Tough choices have to be made. But are we being pennywise and pound foolish?
-Matt Noyes
Pingback: A Healthy Blog » Prison Is Not Treatment: Part 2
Pingback: Mental health testimony shocks Vt. lawmakers « The Mental Health Minute
“in many cases, incarceration could have been avoided”
Matt Noyes is absolutely right. The plight of young people in prison – most of whom do not need to be there – is an issue that requires immediate attention. Many of the children we imprison have suffered from past sexual or physical abuse, or have been the victims of neglect. Once in prison they are then exposed to high levels of violence, intimidation, bullying, and more abuse. If you believe these factors have no impact on a child’s mental health, consider this: a child in prison is 18 times more likely to commit suicide than a child in the community. I work as a campaigner for the Howard League for Penal reform and I believe it is time for a new approach to engaging with children who commit crime. To find out more, click on http://www.howardleague.org/gusu/.
I have been researching the recidivism rate for both adults and juveniles and the likely hood of the individual becoming institutionalized is quite high. Would the cost be better spent as the previous comment stated in treating and helping the individual instead of warehousing individuals and not giving them a chance? the cost of a prison has been a burden on society for too too long and change has to come for the economy and the safety of all people. the budgets could be utilized in a more productive and healthy way for this nation.
You might save some money now, but in the long run it would be much more beneficial and cost effective to pay for early diagnoses and treatment of mental health issues in the earlier stages, before it is to late and fill the prisons.
Of all the countries in the world, the United States has the most prisoners. Russia is in second place. The United States has 5 percent of the world’s population, yet 25 percent of the world’s prisoners. In these prisons in the U.S., they contain the largest population of those determined to be mentally outside of normal limits- which some have determined to be 1/4 million prisoners.