Moving Ahead on Mental Health

Virginian Pilot (Norfolk, VA): Gov. Mark Warner’s proposal to shrink and modernize four key mental health facilities, while upgrading community-based services, is rightly causing ecstasy laced with caution in mental health circles. Drawing on a healthy state surplus, Warner proposes to bring Western and Eastern State hospitals for the mentally ill and Central and Southeastern Virginia Training Centers for the mentally retarded in line with downsizing proposals that have languished on the drawing board for years. The plan will cost $290 million. While some patient advocates think the upgraded Central Virginia facility will still be too large, at about 300 beds, the overall decision to move hundreds of state patients into smaller group homes and intensify local services is on target. The remaining, and critical, question is whether a combined $170 million in state and federal money proposed by Warner for upgraded home and community-based treatment will satisfy the need. Patients transferred out of hospitals join those already on community waiting lists in competing for local support.