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Julie M. Schirmer is a licensed clinical social worker and president of the board of directors for the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
As a clinical social worker, one would assume that I am overjoyed with the announcement of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) $2 million award to shore up our behavioral health crisis system and the Gov. Janet Mills’ proposal to strengthen Maine’s firearm laws and mental health system. While I am thrilled about the attention received, I am deeply concerned that what is proposed amounts to a knee-jerk reaction to the Lewiston shootings and a band-aid approach to shoring up the mental health system in Maine.
Our mental health system is already like a house of cards. I expect that the new crisis services proposed by the governor and DHHS will only aggravate that, drawing clinicians and support staff away from the existing behavioral health system and causing a cascade of organizations to falter and fall. For instance, a longstanding behavioral health agency in Lewiston recently faced a fiscal crisis due to multiple challenges including staff vacancies. Thankfully, another behavioral health organization has stepped up to continue providing services.