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■ 12 March 2008 | 7:09 AM

half-measure on mental health

Re 'General Assembly sends mental health measures to governor,' March 5, Hampton Roads:

For Virginians with severe mental illnesses, this reform is little more than lip service.

About half of all people with severe mental illnesses are too sick to understand they are sick; involuntary treatment is the only option.

Yet the legislature has decided they must wait until they are dangerous.

After Virginia Tech, legislators were forced to reform the mental health system, and they did just not nearly enough.

They refined the outpatient commitment process, but they still require someone to be dangerous before they can enter that treatment system, which means it will remain rarely used.

Virginians with severe mental illnesses deserve effective treatment long before they are 'substantially likely' to seriously harm themselves or others.

This proposed involuntary treatment standard remains among the worst in the nation.

Kurt Entsminger
Arlington
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