Michigan to Cut Staff at Five State Mental Health Facilities

Nearly 100 nurses, psychologists, direct-care aides and other staff members at five Michigan mental health facilities will be laid off this month due to an $875,000 budget shortfall, the Detroit Free Press reports. Geralyn Lasher, spokesperson for the state Department of Community Health, said that the cuts are necessary because of "overspending" at the facilities and a drop in the number of patients needing services. Lasher noted that there are currently 1,224 patients housed at the five facilities, plus two others that will not face staffing cuts, compared to 1,316 enrolled on Oct. 4, 2000, at the seven facilities. But Susan McParland of the Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disorders said, "If the census is down in hospitals, it is because it is too difficult for people with the greatest need for care to be admitted. It is not because of an actual decrease in need." Mental health and workers' advocates say that the state's mental health facilities are "already understaffed," and that making additional staff cuts could pose a risk to staff members who work with violent patients. Some mental health advocacy groups say that Michigan needs to add 400 long-term beds for people with mental illnesses, but state officials say the cost of this project would be too high. Lasher said that some of the layoffs will occur Aug. 6, while the rest will take effect at the end of the month (Wendland-Bowyer, Detroit Free Press, 8/3).