Virginia Mental Health System ‘Strained,’ Needs Additional Money, Resources, Report Says

A reduction in psychiatric hospital beds and recent budget cuts in Virginia are putting a "strain" on the state's mental health system, according to a report by the state Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. The report, which examines inpatient hospital bed availability for mental health patients and outpatient mental health services, was presented on Nov. 6 to the Joint Commission on Health Care and the Joint Commission on Behavioral Health Care. This year, state psychiatric hospitals eliminated 312 inpatient beds as part of a plan to allow people with serious mental illnesses to receive treatment in community-based settings. An additional 161 acute-care psychiatric beds in privately run hospitals were eliminated this year and last. The closures have increased demand for remaining beds and have placed more stress on hospital staff, the Times-Dispatch reports. At least one facility has been forced to limit the hours in which it accepts voluntary admissions. The bed reduction also has contributed to overcrowding in emergency departments at private hospitals, which do not have resources to care for psychiatric patients, but cannot "legally or morally" turn them away. Officials say that additional funds are needed to help people with severe mental illnesses return to the community, the Times-Dispatch reports. Under budget cuts Gov. Mark Warner (D) announced last month, state- and local-level mental health agencies will receive 10% less state funding; the governor might issue additional cuts next month. Dr. James Reinhard, state commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, said, "The community-services-board cuts are putting more consumers at risk of moving back toward hospitalization." Lawmakers might push for increased mental health funds during the next legislative session, the Times-Dispatch reports (Smith, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 11/7).