The administration has officially reversed the decision to close the Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant. This outcome confirms that consistent advocacy for our state psychiatric infrastructure produces tangible results. We must remain vigilant to ensure the promised shift toward comprehensive care facilities remains the primary objective moving …
February 18, 2015
Final supporters
This is a petition to urge Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to consider an alternative to the controversial plan to close two of the 4 state psychiatric hospitals, the Mental Health Institutes (MHI) at Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant. Simply closing the two MHIs would likely worsen the psychiatric bed shortage and increase the crisis of the growing number of mentally ill persons in need of acute inpatient psychiatric care. This has the potential for increasing the risk of violence between patients and caregivers in the remaining hospitals.
The alternative would be to pursue building a large state psychiatric facility similar to the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital in Massachusetts. That would improve the long term care of patients with chronic, severe mental illness, consolidate staff, reduce maintenance costs, and provide a way to bring the best evidence-based practices and the best workers to bring comprehensive mental health services to the patients who need them most.
Updates
February 7, 2015
The feedback regarding the proposed closures highlights a significant fear that current resources are already insufficient to meet the needs of the community. I am currently drafting a formal proposal to present the Worcester model as a more sustainable path forward for our state.
February 7, 2015
The level of engagement this petition has received confirms that the citizens of Iowa prioritize the health and safety of our most vulnerable populations. This momentum demonstrates a clear public mandate for reconsidering current hospital closures in favor of a modern, centralized facility.
Reached 100 supporters
February 7, 2015
37 Comments
Mentally ill people who need urgent care and stablization can be a danger to self and others. If there are no places for them, they either end up in the streets or worse commit crimes and end up in prison which is far more costly than institutionalized care and depending on the crimes they commit for lack of care, they may affect someone else's life forever. Cutting these services is irresponsible and dangerous.
Iowa mental health hospital in Mt Pleasant saved my life. I insist that they not be closed. there is not enough beds as it is.
This is a complicated issue, no doubt. Perhaps dollars could be better utlized than they are currently, but closing the beds without other plans in place will simply put more people with SPMI in the homeless shelters and the prisons. I would urge the Governor and his staff to work with psychiatrists who are "on the front lines" to think up better options.
I recently heard someone say that we would not close ICUs for medical care so why are we closing the MHIs. I think long term planning would be to look at a a modern state of the art facility to serve those with persistent severe mental illness. The idea that all of our patients should be able to live in the community only demonstrates the lack of awareness of the needs of this population.
With the increase in the suicide rate in Iowa by 17% from 2012 to 2013, the Govenor wants to close roughly 45% of the Mental Health beds in Iowa. This makes no sense at all.
totally repugnant! what can our politicians be thinking?
Keep MHI open Iowa needs them!
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The administration has officially reversed the decision to close the Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant. This outcome confirms that consistent advocacy for our state psychiatric infrastructure produces tangible results. We must remain vigilant to ensure the promised shift toward comprehensive care facilities remains the primary objective moving …
February 18, 2015
Final supporters
This is a petition to urge Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to consider an alternative to the controversial plan to close two of the 4 state psychiatric hospitals, the Mental Health Institutes (MHI) at Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant. Simply closing the two MHIs would likely worsen the psychiatric bed shortage and increase the crisis of the growing number of mentally ill persons in need of acute inpatient psychiatric care. This has the potential for increasing the risk of violence between patients and caregivers in the remaining hospitals.
The alternative would be to pursue building a large state psychiatric facility similar to the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital in Massachusetts. That would improve the long term care of patients with chronic, severe mental illness, consolidate staff, reduce maintenance costs, and provide a way to bring the best evidence-based practices and the best workers to bring comprehensive mental health services to the patients who need them most.
Updates
February 7, 2015
The feedback regarding the proposed closures highlights a significant fear that current resources are already insufficient to meet the needs of the community. I am currently drafting a formal proposal to present the Worcester model as a more sustainable path forward for our state.
February 7, 2015
The level of engagement this petition has received confirms that the citizens of Iowa prioritize the health and safety of our most vulnerable populations. This momentum demonstrates a clear public mandate for reconsidering current hospital closures in favor of a modern, centralized facility.
Reached 100 supporters
February 7, 2015
37 Comments
A strategic and constructive mental health treatment setting plan is desperately needed in Iowa. We need the MHIs for patient care as well as a valuable educational resource for health care professional clinical training in mental health services. Southeastern Iowa is definitely in need of expansion of mental health care services, rather than closing them.
Mentally ill people who need urgent care and stablization can be a danger to self and others. If there are no places for them, they either end up in the streets or worse commit crimes and end up in prison which is far more costly than institutionalized care and depending on the crimes they commit for lack of care, they may affect someone else's life forever. Cutting these services is irresponsible and dangerous.
Iowa mental health hospital in Mt Pleasant saved my life. I insist that they not be closed. there is not enough beds as it is.
This is a complicated issue, no doubt. Perhaps dollars could be better utlized than they are currently, but closing the beds without other plans in place will simply put more people with SPMI in the homeless shelters and the prisons. I would urge the Governor and his staff to work with psychiatrists who are "on the front lines" to think up better options.
I recently heard someone say that we would not close ICUs for medical care so why are we closing the MHIs. I think long term planning would be to look at a a modern state of the art facility to serve those with persistent severe mental illness. The idea that all of our patients should be able to live in the community only demonstrates the lack of awareness of the needs of this population.
With the increase in the suicide rate in Iowa by 17% from 2012 to 2013, the Govenor wants to close roughly 45% of the Mental Health beds in Iowa. This makes no sense at all.
totally repugnant! what can our politicians be thinking?
Keep MHI open Iowa needs them!
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A strategic and constructive mental health treatment setting plan is desperately needed in Iowa. We need the MHIs for patient care as well as a valuable educational resource for health care professional clinical training in mental health services. Southeastern Iowa is definitely in need of expansion of mental health care services, rather than closing them.