Advocates: Mental Health Cuts Would Shift Cost to Tyler Area

TYLER — With billions in state budget cuts looming in Texas, local mental health programs in the Tyler area stand to lose approximately $4 million in funding. That’s according to the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). A news release from the affiliate says Texas ranks 50th in the nation in per capita spending on mental health programs, meaning the programs are already underfunded according to local NAMI members. The news release says the implications of those cuts are that fewer people will receive treatment and more mentally ill would end up in jail or the emergency room, thus shifting the costs to the local community.

The Andrews Center Behavioral Healthcare System contracts with the State of Texas to serve the area�s community members who are indigent and have a serious mental illness. The news release says the Andrews Center is serving about 1500-1600 adult patients in community mental health care per month, but is only getting paid to serve 1094. With the proposed budget cuts, according to NAMI, the state would only pay for 875 adults to receive mental health treatment per month.

The Tyler NAMI affiliate met with representatives from the Andrews Center Behavioral Healthcare System, Smith County Sheriff�s Department, City of Tyler, People Attempting to Help (P.A.T.H.), private mental health providers, consumers with mental illness, and their family members to discuss the implications. Affiliate representatives say all were in agreement that shifting the tax burden locally would be the most expensive and least effective option. NAMI Tyler is asking residents to contact their state legislators to voice their concerns.