The Michigan House Committee on Health Policy today heard testimony about proposed changes to the state's mental health code, measures that mental health advocates say would greatly improve treatment for men and women with mental illness.
"Why is it we have to wait for somebody to commit a violent offense before we get the help that they need?" asked State Rep. Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt), the bill's sponsor.
RELATED: Follow our year-long series, "Waiting for Disaster"
Leonard's legislation calls for changes to "Kevin’s Law," signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2004. The law was supposed to make it easier for mentally ill men and women to receive outpatient mental health treatment, yet today it’s barely being used in any courtroom.
One reason, say experts, is because the law requires a serious incident like an arrest to occur before mental health treatment can be ordered.
"The truth is that families can see the crisis coming, weeks before the crisis arrives," said State Court Administrator Milton Mack. "We do not wait to act for any other illness. Why do we wait when it’s mental illness?"
But under today's proposed legislation, a family member could seek mental health services for a loved one before a crisis ever happens.
Our year-long series of investigative reports looking at Michigan's mental health system was also discussed at today’s hearing. The reports documented the plight of men and women like Ron Roude, whose family says the mental health system ignored his cries for help to treat his schizophrenia until the day he stabbed his best friend 14 times.
"*(When) something comes out of the blue, it’s really hard to have a system that takes care of that," Calley told the House Committee. "But what if it was obvious? That’s what we’re talking about here, the cases where everyone knows."
Calley, Mack and Leonard testified for nearly 90 minutes and faced little opposition from committee members. Afterwards, Calley seemed optimistic that the legislature would take action and finally deliver on the promise of Kevin’s Law.
The committee will vote on the bill next week, and it could be taken up by the entire House net month.
"It would be a waste of everybody’s time, but more important than that, a travesty to families in crisis if it’s another 10 years before we determine whether or not the law is working," he said.
Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at rjones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.
