Idaho flunking in its care for the mentally ill

By PAUL MENSER

pmenser@postregister.com

The state was one of eight to receive a failing grade from an advocacy group.

When it came to rating states' efforts to help people with mental illness, Idaho was one of eight states to receive an F in 2006 from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

In the NAMI "Grading the States" report, Idaho was found deficient in leadership, commitment and investment, with one of the lowest per capita spending rates on mental health in the nation.

"There is an astonishing shortage of mental health professionals in the state," the report said.

To represent consumers, the state has awarded a grant to the nonprofit Mountain States Group in Boise. But even that could be in doubt with the next legislative session.

"We are a crisis-oriented state," said Martha Eckoff, director of the group's office of consumer affairs and technical assistance, also the head of Boise's NAMI chapter.

"If someone could get help when they realize they need it, it could solve a lot of problems. Instead, they end up in the hospital or they break the law."

With a population of more than 1 million, Idaho has fewer than 75 psychiatrists. In fact, the NAMI report pointed out that Idaho has more beds in its two state hospitals than it does qualified staff for the facilities.

Assertive Community Treatment programs, which involve trained staffers checking on clients, have been regarded as one of the more effective ways of preventing homelessness and unnecessary hospitalization for people with serious, long-term mental illness. But the NAMI study found that although Idaho had ACT teams in all seven Health and Welfare regions, only four were fully staffed and able to meet model standards.

Likewise, there were no supported employment programs or housing services, or plans to address long-term housing needs.

"Idaho has a long way to go before it even approaches the vision of a recovery-oriented system," the NAMI report said.

If there was any good news, it was that partnerships between the Legislature and criminal justice system were helping to drive reforms.

"Mental health courts are spreading across the state, and judges involved with the courts have been advocates for increased funding for ACT teams to ensure community services for individuals they see in court," the NAMI report said.

Also, to help reach the estimated one-third of the state's population that live in rural and mountainous areas, the state was also creatively using regional field offices, technology, and mobile treatment teams.

The last action by the state came in November 2006 when the Department of Health and Welfare announced $2 million in grant awards for community mental health and substance abuse projects. The one-time development grants, for fiscal years 2007 and 2008, were to be coordinated through the regional mental health boards.

In eastern Idaho, the money added up to $569,916. That included money for the training of a crisis intervention team in Bingham County ($41,000), and money to add 13 beds in transitional housing for adults with serious mental illness in Idaho Falls and Bonneville County.

Idaho's report card

Overall Grade: F

Category Grades:

Infrastructure: D-

Information Access: F

Services: D

Recovery Supports: F

Idaho rankings:

Per capita mental health spending: $33.69

National ranking: 49th

Per capita income: $24,601

National ranking: 46th