Mental health system suffering financially

The mental health system in southeastern North Carolina has been suffering financially for more than a year now. But can a new administration in Raleigh fix a problem that many people in our area say is not fixable?

Governor-elect Beverly Perdue met today with President-elect Barack Obama. They discussed the budgetary needs of our state. One major budget shortfall is that of the mental health system.

Vance Williams, a child and family therapist said, “Have you ever heard anything about the plight of children who have behavioral problems? I haven’t heard anything about the issues of mental health for children?”

The Yahweh Center is a residential treatment center for children suffering from mental health disorders. Not too long ago, they were less than 48 hours away from foreclosing on their property.

Yahweh Center founder Carla Roberts said, “This state historically has wanted to give good care to children, without funding it.”

They felt the trickle down affect first hand from Southeastern Mental Health’s budget cuts. Now, they look to a new administration in Raleigh for help.

Bev Perdue along with other state governors met with President-elect Obama Tuesday speaking on the issue of health care budgets. Overall, the governors asked for $40 billion to help pay for health care alone. Area mental health workers say fixing the problem starts with identifying it.

Williams said, “People are scrambling to think about how they are going to survive, economically in our world, and so where do children fit into that? Where do children with behavioral mental health problems fit into that?”

The Southeastern budget cuts started back in June, but area mental health facilities are still feeling the repercussions over six months later.