Prior to the start of your term as governor, our state was already significantly understaffed, underpaid, overworked and hence largely ineffective in providing timely, quality mental health care to the citizens of Missouri who needed such care.
As a concerned citizen, I wish to express my vehement disagreement with your decision to limit funds to an already grossly under-budgeted mental health care system.
Please remember that it is not only the mentally ill who suffer as a result: it affects most of society as well. Violent individuals, including but not limited to paranoid schizophrenics, receiving inadequate or no treatment will prey upon innocent, law-abiding Missouri citizens. Clinically depressed people, without proper medication and therapy, will be unable to function and may, as they slowly lose hope, commit suicide.
What if your loved one suffered mental illness and, because of your budget cuts, was unable to obtain proper treatment? What if your loved one was raped, tortured or murdered by a mentally ill person whose violent tendencies surfaced in full force due to inadequate or no government-provided treatment?
Governor Blunt, is this truly the kind of state you want Missouri to be? Do the humane thing: reconsider your stance with regard to government funding of mental health treatment.
Estee Schwartz, MSSW
Via email