Real Name: Susan Stewart Member Since: March 14, 2006 Last Signed In: May 25, 2008 Profile Views: 25 Blog Views: 291 More on Budgets Cuts The Cost of Illness My World In Texas Where's a Family Member to Go? Is Recovery Possible? What Do You Fear? Welcome to My World March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 
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More on Budgets Cuts
In response to my last post about budget cuts in the Department of Mental Health, antiextremeism responding comparing DMH with Department of Public, along with Kern County's statistics of West Nile Virus. Antiextremenism correctly pointed out that KC had the large number of human case in 2007 at 140. None reported yet this year. The state of California has had no human deaths due to WNV. When comparisons are looked at, considering population of about 660,000 in Kern County, 140 may not be extreme. Let's look at mental illness. I'm not going to consider those served by some mental health agencies for substance abuse or emotional problems, like grief. I want to focus strictly on mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, OCD, major depression, etc. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that up to 25% of the population of the United States might be affected by mental illness in some way. That figure includes family members who are caring for someone with a mental illness. So, let's just say that less than half that number might actually be diagnosable with a mental illness. (I know my words "might" and "maybe" could cause some to give pause. However, mental illnesses are not easily diagnosed, and many sufferers are never diagnosed or treated.) Given that percentage, Kern County might have as many as 50,000 people with a mental illness. I think it might be closer to 30,000 -- but that's a personal opinion. Further, not all those diagnosed with a mental illness are treated through DMH. Again, there are no statistics on those being served by private professionals, or out of county. But let's just say, 10,000 people could be served by DMH. Besides the number of people served by DMH as compared to those with West Nile Virus, the length of the illness and the potential of relapse is different. According to the Center for Di ease Control about 80 percent of people with WNV never show symptoms. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/d...) A serious and persistent mental illness is for a lifetime - relapse is only a day away. Yes, antiextremeism, there are more employees at DMH, but the need is also greater. 1 comments from 1 users
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posted by
antiextremism
on May 26, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I have no problem with getting help for mental patients. That was not my intent when making the comparison. The real problem with all government is not money spent, but how it is spent. At this time of year, everyone running a program is scrambling around trying to spend the rest of their budget. Usually what that means is thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent on useless crap. It would seem that the State measures the competency of their programs by way of money spent, instead of true effectiveness. If a program gets 1 million dollars, and only spend 750,000, they lose that money and they also get downgraded for budget funds the next year. What should actually occur is analyzing the program by it's success, and rewarding any director who saves the taxpayers money by doing more with less, taking that extra quarter of a million dollars, and throwing it into next years budget. It wouldn't take much of that quarter mil to have someone from the state come down and audit that effectiveness. Mental health patients should have access to care. I just think that most people didn't realize that Mental Health had twice as many employees as Public Health. Something that most people in this county would find surprising. (BTW, West Nile Virus victims will be coming along very soon now)
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