On July 25, 2010, my 27-year-old daughter, who lived with bipolar illness for more than 10 years, committed suicide. My sorrow never leaves me. The mental health services and system here in Virginia failed at treating her.
Being a professional clinical social worker, I felt helpless and hopeless about the inpatient/outpatient care that was available to my daughter after her private psychiatrist of more than 10 years retired. Unable to receive services needed, she was hospitalized on numerous occasions.
It is shocking that barbaric treatment — such as physically restraining patients — still exists in state mental hospitals as well as lack of protecting vulnerable patients from violent patients. During three different hospitalizations, my daughter was punched in the chest by a male patient without provocation, punched in the side of the head by a deaf patient while quietly listening to music with ear buds and put into restraints unexpectedly for more than three hours while I waited for her to return for a planned pass. In spite of numerous requests to speak to the administrator in charge, I was completely ignored. Subsequently, I informed the patient advocate, and all pertinent hospital and state officials. I even consulted a human rights attorney and was told state hospitals have “sovereign immunity.”
My daughter was discharged from her last hospitalization at Western State on July 3, 2010. At the time, her condition required around-the-clock supervision. Her father and I were diligent in giving her the prescribed medication, but our local community services board was unable to provide her with the outpatient support services she needed.
On Dec. 19, 2011, Gov. Bob McDonnell released his proposed state budget for Virginia (fiscal years 2012-2014). No new funding was proposed for mental health services for adults or children. There will be no additional services or supports for those currently in need of services.
The number of inpatient psychiatric hospital beds already has been drastically downsized. Community services boards are understaffed and lack the funding to provide required services. There will be no way to expand or strengthen existing services unless corrections and improvements are made to the proposed budget.
To improve respect and services for the mentally ill in Virginia, mental health state funding has to be increased. Everyone, especially people who feel so desperate that they need to end their lives, should have access to the appropriate treatment and support services they need.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement