[Engedi]

I’m sorry we do need more inpatient facilities and outpatient care centers. The only for a person to get help and get admitted is to say I’m going to hurt myself or someone else.

Among the mentally ill are our Vets. Getting treatment takes weeks and months to get an appointment. I’m involved with many Vets who need and want help, but help comes to late. Not enough Dr’s, practitioners, facilities to help folks who suffer from a mental crisis, break-down due to life events.

I have a couple family members who couldn’t get help and just gave up. They weren’t drug addicts or alcoholics. Just good people who had major life events throw their life out of kilter.

[Gay State Conservative]

Having worked in a big city ER (as an administrator) I know a little bit about this.The overwhelming majority of the *chronically* homeless qualify as either 1) schizophrenic 2) drug addict 3) alcoholic. Some qualify as more than one of those things.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder...it's not the result of bad character or bad parenting. Most schizophrenics will not take their meds as directed...resulting in what you regularly see on the streets of San Fransicko or in NYC subway stations.

Alcoholics and drug addicts...well,we know what that's all about.

I say again...more psychiatric hospitals.

[Gay State Conservative]

Ooops...forgot to mention vets. Yes,my Army duties (long ago) were connected to base hospitals and,as a result,I encountered many soldiers who were physically,and mentally,damaged during their service. All such servicemen deserve *comprehensive* care for *as long* as they need it.