1 week Ago
AS A licensed clinical social worker and CEO of Wanderlust Therapeutic Services in Nashua, I have had the privilege of working closely with thousands of individuals in southern New Hampshire who rely on mental health care. Our agency provides critical services to those in need of outpatient treatment, including diversionary care for individuals at risk of being incarcerated or institutionalized. But as we look ahead to the proposed House budget cuts to Medicaid, mental health centers, the Department of Corrections, and Health and Human Services, I cannot help but worry about the long-term impact these reductions will have on the mental health infrastructure in our state.
At Wanderlust Therapeutic Services, we provide a much-needed service, but we rely heavily on community mental health centers and state programs to support the most vulnerable members of our community. These centers are essential in providing wraparound care to individuals with complex mental health issues, and they often offer the kind of comprehensive support that private group practices like ours are not equipped to provide on our own. Whether it’s emergency psychiatric care, long-term therapy for individuals with severe mental illness, or diversion programs to help individuals avoid jail or prison, community mental health centers are a crucial part of the mental health safety net.
Without them, we would be left with a system that is overwhelmed, under-resourced, and unable to meet the rising demand for services. The proposed cuts to these services, however, threaten to unravel the progress we’ve made in mental health care and, in turn, worsen the mental health crisis in New Hampshire. When community mental health centers are underfunded or forced to close, individuals are left without access to critical services.
This not only hurts those seeking treatment but also puts a significant strain on emergency rooms, jails, and hospitals, which are not designed to provide the type of therapeutic care that is necessary to address mental health issues. A tragic example of this can be found in Vancouver, Washington, where the closure of Columbia River Mental Health created a crisis in that community. Columbia River is a vital resource for individuals in need of mental health care, and when it closed its doors, the community was left without sufficient support.
As a result, individuals in crisis were being sent to emergency rooms or jails, where they often receive inadequate care or even face criminal charges for behaviors stemming from untreated mental health conditions. This is the very real danger we face here in New Hampshire if our community mental health infrastructure is further weakened. The consequences of further cuts are not just financial — they are human.
People with severe mental health issues, as well as those with developmental disabilities, rely on these services to live safe, fulfilling lives in their communities. Without access to proper care, these individuals are more likely to experience homelessness, incarceration, and even premature death. As a society, we cannot afford to ignore their needs or pretend that these cuts won’t have a profound impact on the most vulnerable among us.
I urge our elected officials to carefully reconsider these deep cuts. As an outpatient mental health provider, we understand that difficult financial decisions must be made. However, we also know that cutting vital mental health services and support for people with developmental disabilities is a false economy.
The cost of neglecting mental health is far greater than the price of providing care. We are all connected, and when one of us suffers, the whole community suffers. It’s time to invest in the future of New Hampshire by preserving and expanding mental health care services.
This means ensuring that community mental health centers are adequately funded, that Medicaid continues to provide essential services, and that our most vulnerable populations receive the care they need. I call on our state legislators to act in the best interest of our community and to reject cuts that will only deepen the crisis and hurt those who need help the most. The mental health of our state is at stake, and it is up to all of us to ensure that it remains a priority.
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