Mental Health

League of Women Voters^®
of Virginia

Public Policy Position

MENTAL HEALTH
Organization and Management
The League of Women Voters of Virginia believes that the goals of the state's mental health care system should:

Provide quality mental health care which utilized the most current knowledge and which respects the dignity 'and human rights of each individual;
Enable the mentally ill to attain their highest level of functioning -- to lead lives as normal as possible;
Meet mental health needs of all Virginians regardless of mental disorder, race, creed, age, sex, or ethnic origin; and
Endeavor to prevent mental illness and to reduce its incidence and severity. (June 1987)

A public mental health care system should include:

Commitment to quality community-based services;
A long-range comprehensive plan for meeting clients needs;
Clear lines of authority and accountability;
Coordination among the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) and other agencies providing services to mental health clients;
Evaluation of program effectiveness and administrative efficiency; and
Sufficient number of qualified and well trained staff. (June 1989)

In allocating state funds among community services boards, it is essential to maintain current programs and fill identified service gaps.
It is important to use additional factors in allocating state funds as follows:

Total population of area served;
Encouragement of local support;
Economic resources of the community;
Local tax effort; and
Number of mental health clinics in the system. (June 1987)

The state should institute a data gathering and analysis system that provides uniform statewide data for planning and evaluating the mental health care system in Virginia. (June 1987)
The state should review the organization and structure for delivery of mental health services at the local level. (June 1989)
In order to recruit and retain qualified staff in the mental health care system, the DMHMRSAS should:

Increase pay and improve work environment;
Form linkages with universities;
Provide stipends to students, in return for services, in fields for which there are demonstrated recruitment and retention difficulties; and
Provide in-service training. (June 1989)

Housing
LWVV A believes that in order to obtain adequate and appropriate housing for the mentally ill, the government of Virginia should:

Provide funding;
Enact statutes to affirm state responsibility;
Provide technical assistance to housing providers;
Provide public education; and
Encourage private/public sector cooperation to obtain housing for the mentally ill. (January 1989)

Clients
LWV VA believes that it is essential that the state's mental health system serve:

The chronically mentally ill--those suffering from a severe and persistent mental or emotional impairment that seriously impairs their functioning; and
People suffering from an acute mental disturbance which produces serious impairment and distress in social relations and vocational functioning.

It is important to provide needed services to people under major stress and/or at risk of developing mental or emotional disorders. (June 1987)
The state's mental health care system should provide the specialized services and specially trained staff required to meet the mental health needs of special populations such as children and adolescents, the elderly, people under the purview of the courts, the dual diagnosed (mentally ill/mentally retarded and mentally ill/substance abusers), and immigrants. (June 1987)
The DMHMRSAS should study the characteristics and needs of clients in state hospitals, especially those who are either frequently readmitted or have long-term hospital stays; and that the DMHMRSAS should institute suitable changes to deal with identified problems. (June 1989)
Patients' Rights
LWV VA supports the rights of mentally ill persons as defined by the Supreme Court, federal and state court rulings, laws, rules and regulations. (Sept. 1988)
LWV VA supports internal and external advocacy programs in order to ensure patients' rights, and supports the appointment of persons who are mentally ill to the State Human Rights Committee and to local human rights committees for facilities and for community services boards. (Sept.1988)
Civil Commitment
LWVVA believes that the state's civil commitment procedures should provide:

Counsel be appointed for the patient as soon as possible to allow time to confer and consider options;
An individual detained pending commitment hearings should be offered non-emergency treatment; and
Training about the nature and treatment of mental illness and related issues should be provided to justice system personnel involved in civil commitment in Virginia. (Sept. 1988)

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