Washington governor proposes fix to mental health system

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled on Dec. 11 his budget and policy plans for fixing the state's struggling mental health system in the coming years, The Associated Press reported. Inslee said at a news conference that he wants to change the system from being “crisis‐based” to one that focuses on prevention by providing mental health care to more people. The governor proposes opening housing in communities so people can be treated in centers that are closer to their families. Inslee said he wanted to invest in the troubled Western State Hospital to address safety concerns there, but he didn't mention the rise in assaults at the state's largest psychiatric hospital. A recent Associated Press investigation found that attacks by patients on staff and other patients have been increasing in recent years. The 850‐plus‐bed facility in Lakewood also lost its certification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and federal funding after it repeatedly failed health and safety inspections. Workers at the hospital have said they are in crisis mode and fear for their safety as they go into work each day. Inslee said there was a critical shortage in mental health workers across the state, and his remedy would be to provide scholarships for people interested in pursuing a career in that area. His written plan calls for $56 million for infrastructure at Western and Eastern State Hospitals. It does not mention an increase in staffing, which is what workers want.