Mental health report ignores deeper issues

Mental health is a pressing issue and jails are now the largest mental-health facilities in almost every county nationwide. More than half of all prison and jail inmates were found to have mentalhealth issues according to a study published by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.

A disturbing trend is the lack of discussion of the inordinate stress placed on correctional facilities with the increase of individuals with mental-health needs. This population incarcerated annually literally runs into the thousands. Correctional health-care professionals stabilize these individuals only to see them released — knowing they too often return to the streets.

Recently, the Sun Sentinel has focused on the deaths of a few extremely ill individuals, some of whom were not in the care of the Broward Sheriff ’s Office. It was reported that very sick inmates were not hospitalized so that the private health-care provider could enhance profits. Nothing could be further from the truth as there is no financial incentive to deny any inmate hospitalization.

Armor Correctional Health Services provides a comprehensive Behavioral Health Program that includes an initial screening for chronic and acute mental illness, suicide potential and, among other important data, assesses any substance-abuse issues. If a patient is found to be positive for any elements in those areas of concern, then he or she is referred to the Behavioral Health team for further indepth evaluations, safety precautions and/ or any of a number of therapeutic modalities including psychotropic medication if indicated. Armor’s staff of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, mid-level psychiatric prescribers, case workers and licensed therapists also coordinate and interface with a team of clinical psychologists and other mental-health professionals staffed by Broward County.

If, like at every respected hospital in this country, unintended patient outcomes occur, then report it, but report all the facts and provide a baseline of information that reflects the inordinate high volume of patients. Do not condemn corrections-based caregivers by relying on some financially motivated attorneys’ unproven allegations, made in an attempt to manipulate public opinion.

In response to the biased and unbalanced coverage this month on mental health and those who provide health care in jails, let’s recognize the health-care professionals who do this job every day to a standard oftentimes beyond what can be found in the public health system.

The unwritten story is the dedication of corrections professionals who care for those that society and even their families oftentimes have forgotten. Rather than reiterating fictitious stories and incorrectly reporting contractual terms, let’s honor the dedicated and compassionate men and women who care for our incarcerated daily.

A disturbing trend is the lack of discussion of the inordinate stress placed on correctional facilities.