Video: Changes in Mental Health Care Delivery Leaving Jails Looking for Solutions

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NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WCBI) -Recent changes at Region Four Mental Health Services now have New Albany and Union County leaders looking for ways to help the mentally ill and drug addicts there.  Like other counties and towns, they’re not allowed to use jails as permanent places to house these individuals.
R. H. Brown joins us in our studio with more on the dilemma in Union County that so many others are wrestling with as well.

Aundrea, Joey, Just as New Albany and Union County officials had put together a program that gave them somewhat of a smooth sailing ship…..if mental health issues are smooth sailing. They now find themselves having to make some adjustments.

For the last three years Union County Chancery Clerk Annette Hickey has experienced a successful partnering with Region Four Mental Health Services of Tupelo, which has a crisis stabilization unit near the state mental hospital.
” And its been great because they have taken care of our mental commitments as well as our alcohol and drug commitments.”

Once a family member fills out commitment papers for a patient who is a danger to him or herself and others they were taken there for evaluation.
“New Albany and Union County officials did get a letter in the mail a few weeks ago informing them the crisis stabilization unit is closing effective July 15th.”

“However since they are closing the Tupelo branch that puts us on the bottom of the list to go to try to go to Batesville or Corinth. So now we are at the point where we have to find another holding facility.”

Because of an increase in clients, there is also an increase in yearly costs to the state and the county that has left them scrambling to find the best alternative.
“I’ve contacted other facilities to see if they are able to help us. To either contract with them on a monthly basis or either just a cases by case basis.” >
New Albany and Union County officials are expected to be holding a series of meeting in the coming weeks to come up with the best options for dealing with the mentally ill and drug dependent clients.