I would like to thank Rep. Mary Sawatzky for coordinating two recent meetings in Willmar to discuss mental health. I have been a psychiatric nurse for 40 years and our mental health system is tragically broken.
Due to Rep. Sawatzky’s efforts, over 75 people met with Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson on Sept. 19 to discuss what the state can do to bring better mental health services to clients.
Issues that were identified were: not enough inpatient beds, the need to increase the number of mental health professionals, the lack of appropriate residential services for the most challenging clients and the need for more housing options for clients suffering from mental illness.
The upcoming legislative session is going to be critical to move mental health to the forefront. Hopefully we will see the changes that need to happen in the near future.
Mary M. Kjolsing
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Willmar
