The BDN Opinion section is independently run and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles in the newspaper or elsewhere on bangordailynews.com.
Simonne Maline is executive director of the Consumer Council of Maine. She immediately identifies as someone living with mental health issues (as do our staff and members). The Consumer Council System of Maine (CCSM) was established by state law in 2008 to give people who have experienced mental health issues a meaningful voice in addressing Maine’s mental health care system. .
When you open a newspaper or listen to the news on TV or radio, you’re bound to hear stories about the lack of local mental health services and the serious harm it causes to thousands of people. The burden is undeniable as health systems, social services, law enforcement, prisons, emergency responders, and hospital emergency rooms all grapple with the effects of untreated mental health problems. This cycle perpetuates itself, under-allocating mental health services and exacerbating the crisis.
On the positive side, it’s great that this is getting attention after decades of being overlooked as a silent pandemic. The lack of adequate mental health services takes a huge toll on individuals, families, and communities, leaving scars that are not always visible but are deeply felt. According to a recent point-in-time survey, 8,913 Maine residents are currently waiting 32 weeks for mental health counseling and 2,849 Maine residents are waiting an average of 33 weeks for a psychiatric medication evaluation.
Behind the statistics are stories of personal suffering. Every day, thousands of Maine neighbors, family members, and friends struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions, but timely and effective treatment remains elusive for many. It’s a difficult situation. The human suffering is intolerable.
Currently, a 30-year-old man living in the Portland area is on a waiting list for a case manager who is desperately needed to continue living independently in the community. Even in Portland, you’ll have to wait months to find a provider. As a result, he is on a waiting list and unable to receive this essential service that can help him access and coordinate other needed services.
The 25-year-old York County woman ultimately decided she needed help and is currently awaiting outpatient talk therapy. For self-introductions, the average wait time is over 6 months. If people in need have to wait this long for help or assistance, they are more likely to end up in crisis or in hospital, harming us all and continuing to strain the system. .
The 65-year-old Androscoggin County man is receiving medication to stabilize his symptoms and help him remain independent and productive. Already, he has to travel an hour to his provider’s office. He is currently forced into telehealth services that do not meet his communication needs. He now has to go through many hoops to continue taking the medication until he adjusts to who he is in the months ahead.
These stories are about basic or relatively “low-level” services that allow people to remain active in their communities and workplaces. The situation is even more dire when we look at more specialized services, such as residential care, home support, housing, and wrap-around services.
So when we talk about workforce shortages and the chronic underfunding of mental health systems, we need to raise our sense of urgency. Our reactions must correspond to the moment in which we find ourselves.
The level of need far outweighs the current modest investments to fix the system. And the problem is that the country has money. But instead of funding these desperately needed services, the Mills administration proposed creating a new place for “savings.” Yes, you read that correctly. By law, there are limits to the amount of cash that can be stuffed into so-called “rainy day funds.” Maine has reached its limits, so it is proposed to create a new mini-Rainy Day Fund. Certainly, we can all agree that the mental health needs of Mainers are overwhelming, and support is needed now.
A series of bills have already been passed and we are awaiting funding that will go a long way in getting us to this moment. We have a moral obligation to meet this crisis head-on and ensure that no one is left behind in the fight for spiritual well-being.
Please do it.
