ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsTuscaloosa fears grow over mental health consolidation

Tuscaloosa fears grow over mental health consolidation

     ABC 33/40 has learned Tuscaloosa County, city and Northport leaders plan to meet with state mental health officials on Friday at undisclosed location and time.

     The meeting is to discuss a downsizing plan that will leave only two mental health treatment facilities in the state, both in Tuscaloosa.

      Under the plan, 950 workers statewide would lose their jobs.  A new hospital to replace 'Bryce Hospital'  and a geriatric center will be the only two to remain open.  'Taylor Hardin, a center to secure and treat seriously unstable mental health patients will close . Those patients would be turned over to the state Department of Corrections.

      The news came as a shock to probate Judge Hardy McCullom.  He commits patients daily.  "I had expressed concern at the few beds available for court committed patients and had been told by mental health officials they were going to address that," McCullom said

       Right now, its unclear where the most seriously unstable clients from the time of closure on will go.

       475 current Bryce patients will be released to community care, which the Tuscaloosa County city of Northport has already seen and influx of.  The mayor is even more frustrated at the proposed changes.  "I don't see how the state of Alabama can all of a sudden wave its hand and say all of you people that have been institutionalized are healed. And out into the community you go," said Mayor Bobby Herndon.

    Jail Medical director, Dr. Phillip Bobo treats patients from Taylor Hardin daily.  "Many committed heinous crimes, murder and that's why they're there."

    State officials say cuts in funding are reasons for the change.  On Friday, Governor Robert Bentley told reporters regarding his plan to slash $12 million dollars from the Mental Health budget, "We're looking for ways to modernize our mental health system."

     Despite the criticism -- proponents call the move good plan and says its in line with a national trend of similar Mental Health department cuts in other states.

     But, critics such as Dr. Bobo say its extremely risky to put *some* mentally ill patients into community settings.

   "Everybody in Tuscaloosa should protest this. Call the governor's office.  He's a dermatologist.  He doesn't know one thing about mental health."