Denver Post Examines Colorado’s Mental Health System

The Denver Post on Nov. 17 examined Colorado's criminal justice and private and public mental health systems, which are "gingerly taking the first steps" toward working together. Millions of dollars have been cut from mental health programs statewide and additional cuts are possible because of state budget constraints, according to the Post. Mental health advocates argue that "[s]kimping" on mental health treatment and resources will "ultimately cost taxpayers more" through increased costs for police and prisons, emergency room care, homeless programs and court proceedings. As it stands, the Post reports that the state's mental health system is "spotty" and not equipped to treat the most dangerous mentally ill patients properly because of a decrease in funding for outpatient treatment and a decline in the number of psychiatric beds. In addition, the system rarely commits patients to a mental hospital for more than 30 consecutive days. As a result of the lack of resources and coordination between the criminal justice and mental health systems, dangerously ill mental patients "slip through the system." For example, most mentally ill prison inmates are eventually released from prison, but do not receive adequate treatment because the state has few halfway houses, according to Tom Barrett, director of mental health services, a division of the Department of Human Services. He added that the shortage of halfway houses force inmates to stay in prison longer. The Post reports that three years ago the state Legislature created a mental health/criminal justice task force to address problems related to mental illness, incarceration and crime. While the Legislature recently voted to extend the task force, it has not authorized additional funds for it (Auge, Denver Post, 11/17).