2 Works For You is learning more about mental health funding cuts from the state and how they could have a devastating effect on teams who respond to people in crisis.
Family and Children’s Services runs a team of 19 mental health professionals that are trained to help people in distress.
The team responds through the Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Services (COPES) crisis hotline or get referred by local hospitals and emergency services.
The group said 1,300 calls come in each week for people in mental crisis.
Family and Children’s Services said $15-million in cuts would stop COPES and several outpatient services.
“When you think about the families of those individuals in this community that may end up losing their lives if they don’t get connected to mental health services,” said Amanda Bradley, COPES Director.
Case workers fear with their hotline services gone, someone going through a traumatic episode could easily end up in jail instead of getting the care they need.
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