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Show leial tali Mm , Gncarns Afoul finds By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON A legislative legis-lative subcommittee has voted a Vi percent increase in mental men-tal health funding putting allocations allo-cations back at last year's level. DAVIS COUNTY Mental Health Director Russell Williams Wil-liams said restoration would cancel the 3'i percent cut imposed im-posed last year. "What it means when you think of 12': percent inflation last year, and that's low when you think of medical costs if that continues con-tinues we will face a 12-13 percent per-cent cut next year. "We've been doing that every ev-ery year. It becomes difficult. Although the county gave us more this year they don't have the resources, to take up the entire (difference)." he added. NOTING A difficulty sometimes some-times encountered in relating mental health needs to legislators legisla-tors Dr. Williams said. "It's very hard to translate dollars to people. We're not translating translat-ing that (money) into individuals indi-viduals who aren't able to get that (help due to, funding cuts)." In spite of difficulty in explaining ex-plaining such cases because of confidentiality in dealing with clients. Dr. Williams said one mental health center saw a 50 percent drop in suicidal rates since its opening. ASKED IF the center could help meet the cuts through third-party collections for services ser-vices rendered he said, "It becomes be-comes harder (for clients to pay) as money gets tighter. I don't know what else we can do we refuse to serve non-payers, non-payers, charge everyone a fee and have computerized billing and send out followup billings. "You get down to the point that the type of people you're dealing with, on drug abuse, for instance, it's long term and they aren't rolling in money. 1 liken it to liability insurance. If we took it (requirement) off cars guess who wouldn't get it?.. That's the typipjjhjng we'rRj, confronted witl. "WE'LL BE in a situation of treating people as best we can with what we have or we'll just have to let them go," he said. But he stressed statistics supporting mental health care. Of those with suicidal tendencies tenden-cies a "little less than one percent per-cent kill themselves" after treatment. Otherwise it's 15 percent. REITERATING attempts at receiving payment. Dr. Williams Wil-liams explained. "We asked for payment at the time of service ser-vice and with an extended pay plan. All these things have helped. On a per capita volume we're collecting more than anyone else." Turning to drug and alcohol funding-equalization, Dr. Williams Wil-liams said, "We need $250,000 identified to address the need." That move has been agreed to by drug and alcohol officials and indicated as necessary by a legislative report. re-port. BUT WHILE the funding is conceded he said, "Now we need to do it. It's past discussion. discus-sion. Everyone agrees (the inequity) ine-quity) exists we've been . working on this for two years. We needuj have something done this year." Mental health advisory board members need to alert legislators to the importance of approving such action along with supporting tax increases for beer and alcohol in general. BUT THE increase, if approved, could be passed on to education, he said. "They collected $19 million last year and only about $1 million went to drug and alcohol (treatment). (treat-ment). They ask us to address the problem but give us little to treat it with. "Alcoholism is a problem auto suicides are on the increase in-crease (due to drinking) and causing wrecks. If we want to deal with it we have to be realistic. The beer companies spend more for advertising than that ($1 million received last year)." IF THE tax increase is approved some $1.1 -SI. 5 million mil-lion addition would be generated, gener-ated, bringing "somewhere around $100,000 for treatment in this area," Dr. Williams said. "It would provide an alternative to just going to jail. They could get treatment." That would boost Davis , , County1;' I .share to about ' $250.0001 he said, noting the" ' existing treatment program has had "very good results" with "good support" from judges. BUT AT present, things don't look bright. "Two years ago we were barely squeaking by. We don't have a large staff. We (state) went from 49th to 50th in the nation in mental health treatment." |