Malory Shaughnessy and Elizabeth Sweet
Maine is facing a crisis in mental health care. The evidence is overwhelming, and the voices calling for change are growing louder.The message is clear: we must prioritize funding for mental health services now. The Maine Child Welfare Services ombudsman’s report contains words that echo with urgency: “We must continually face the reality that there are children that are, or will be, unsafe in their parents’ care. And the state is responsible for protecting those children.”
The stark reality is that our current mental health care system is failing these children and families. Every case review conducted this year highlighted the detrimental impact of inadequate mental health services on both children and adults.
The most recent Maine Deadly Force Report emphasizes the critical need for action. For the fourth year in a row, the group’s annual report called for more support for the state’s mental health services. The report “urgently reiterates its call for resources for mental health services. The contributing causes leading individuals to armed confrontations with law enforcement remain the same; only the names change.” It’s a chilling reminder that without proper mental health support, we are perpetuating a cycle of crisis and tragedy.
The consequences of inaction are dire. The Department of Justice states in its investigation’s finding letter issued in June of 2022 that, “We have determined that Maine is violating the ADA by failing to provide behavioral health services to children in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Instead, the State unnecessarily relies on segregated settings such as psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities to provide these services. As a result of these violations, children are separated from their families and communities.”