HB 843 Commission

MENTAL ILLNESS & SUBSTANCE ABUSE:
THE HB 843 MESSAGE

Mental illness and Substance Abuse will affect one in five of our citizens at some time in their lives. 

The system of MH/SA care has been seriously underfunded for years (KY has dropped from 1st in the nation to its current rank of 44th nationally in funding for mental health and substance abuse services…and that was before the 2002-03 budget cuts and funding freezes!). 

Everyone has been invited to the table to participate in the on-going HB 843 planning which is a community-based, bottom-up process. 

We must begin NOW to implement the HB 843 recommendations to assure access to effective, comprehensive community-based care. 

Remember the adage: “You can pay me now…or you can pay me much, much more later!” NOW is the time for Kentucky to pay!

This adage is particularly true for MH/SA services – where failure to treat often results in the revolving door of hospitalization, deterioration, jail, living on the streets, and a diminished quality of life. 

We know that treatment works…but only if it is accessible…and it is accessible only if it is funded!!

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