Funding crisis at root of tragedies for mentally ill

Something terrible is going on in Illinois and in the nation. People with mental illness are being killed in encounters with the police in alarming numbers. The killing of Charles Hollstein in Zion by police officers is an example of this alarming situation.

A recent study reported by the Treatment Advocacy Center finds that a person with untreated mental illness is 16 times more likely than a person without a mental illness to be killed in an encounter with the police.

Some people may believe the reason for this is that people with mental illness are so violent that in many cases police officers have no alternative than to shoot. But facts do not bear this out. Many, many studies have shown that people with mental illness who are in treatment are no more prone to commit a violent act than the general public is.

The key then is treatment. Mental illnesses are quite treatable, but treatment only works if people can get it. And what has been happening in Illinois regarding treatment? At a time when many states are increasing their mental health budgets, Illinois has led the nation in the size of the cuts to its mental health programs. Gov. Rauner's proposed budget and the current budget impasse in Springfield have only made that situation worse.

We call upon the governor and members of the General Assembly to fix this problem immediately. If not, we will continue to see thousands of people - people who with treatment could recover - suffer needlessly and we will continue to see tragedies like the ones in Zion and elsewhere. Our government leaders in Springfield must act now to remedy a terrible situation they have caused.

Maryrose Peters, President, NAMI Barrington; Pat Rodbro, Co-President, NAMI Cook County North Suburban; and cosigned by heads of eight other NAMI chapters.