MA mental health budget cuts fuel worries
January 23rd, 2009From the Boston Globe:
A recent round of budget cuts in Massachusetts has led to reduced hours at local mental health facilities like the Elliot House in Needham, a clubhouse that serves people with mental illness. Mental health professionals are worried that the cuts will cause people to suffer, and that more cuts are coming.
Gov. Deval Patrick cut $1 million from the 32 clubhouses across the state as part of more than $9 million in reductions to the Department of Mental Health last fall. A mental health supervisor said he fears that up to 10 clubhouses in Massachusetts could close when the mental health department announces restructuring plans next month.
Barbara Leadholm, commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health, said the concerns are speculative and premature.
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