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In the wake of the pandemic, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has taken significant strides to improve the state’s mental health care system. This heightened focus on mental health is a reflection of national concerns following COVID-19’s impact on mental well-being.
The stretched resources of law enforcement, including those of the Marion Police Department led by Chief John Clair, highlight the urgent need for reforms. Officers across Virginia frequently find themselves taking on roles outside their traditional purview, including the transportation and oversight of individuals experiencing mental health crises—a duty that has ballooned to become their most common service call.
Clair, who oversees a 21-member police force, explains the exhaustive demands placed on his officers. Lengthy trips across Virginia to transport patients for mandatory treatment, only to face a lack of available hospital beds, disrupts policing and compromises patient care. It’s an issue that has intensified over the last five years.
Gov. Youngkin, a Republican, took office about a year ago and quickly introduced an ambitious plan to overhaul psychiatric care delivery. The approach emphasizes community-based treatment, aiming to reduce delays in accessing care and alleviate the strain on law enforcement bodies like Marion’s. While Virginia faces acute challenges, it shares a compulsion with the rest of the U.S. to address mental health care, exacerbated by the pandemic’s sequelae of isolation and loss.
Data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration from 2022 indicates a troubling statistic: nearly half of adults with any mental illness went without treatment.
Youngkin’s interest in improving mental health support was fostered during his campaign trail and has since garnered bipartisan backing through his “Right Help, Right Now” initiative. The initiative’s goals are extensive, from bolstering the behavioral health workforce to curbing overdose deaths, which were alarmingly high in 2022. Youngkin, who has limited time left in office due to term limits, aims to solidify a system offering immediate support to those in crisis.
The administration’s plan includes expanding mobile crisis response teams and establishing more stabilization centers. A recent state report underscored the dire need for these improvements, illustrating the high number of temporary detention orders and associated delays in treatment, as well as the problematic practice of law enforcement “drop offs”
Efforts across the U.S. to transform mental health care are varied but share a common urgency. Policymakers have directed pandemic relief funding towards mental health services, and state officials continue to prioritize mental health in budgetary considerations.
With widespread recognition of the marathon ahead, mental health remains a priority. In Virginia, proposed legislation aims to better navigate the intersection between law enforcement and mental health. Chief Clair remains vocal about the necessity for timely and effective change, emphasizing the potential for tragedy if the situation remains unaddressed.
Highlighting the human toll, Clair recalls the story of a patient, transported at a considerable cost, who had previously attempted suicide. Despite a heartfelt thank-you note from the patient, the cycle of crisis and custody persisted. Both the police and patients in crisis, Clair insists, need a system that prevents recurring tragedies.
Contributing to this report from Cherry Hill, New Jersey was Geoff Mulvihill.
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FAQ
Why is mental health care a concern for Virginia’s law enforcement?
Law enforcement agencies in Virginia are increasingly called upon for the transport and supervision of individuals experiencing mental health crises. This strains resources and affects their ability to perform traditional policing duties.
What is Gov. Youngkin’s “Right Help, Right Now” initiative?
The “Right Help, Right Now” initiative is a series of reforms proposed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin aimed at overhauling Virginia’s mental health care system, focusing on community-based treatment, and providing immediate support to individuals in crisis.
What are some of the specific goals of the initiative?
Goals include building a more robust behavioral health care workforce, working to decrease overdose deaths, and creating a system for providing same-day help to people in crisis.
How is the rest of the U.S. addressing mental health care?
States are using federal funds to increase access to care, and governors have frequently discussed mental health in their state addresses. Mental health care is considered a budget priority in many states.
What role did the pandemic play in the current focus on mental health?
The pandemic led to isolation, fear, and grief, exacerbating existing mental health issues and creating a renewed urgency to improve mental health services.
Conclusion
The initiative spearheaded by Governor Youngkin in Virginia is part of a broader, national recognition of the need for improved mental health care. The challenges faced by law enforcement officials like Chief Clair exemplify the practical difficulties in providing adequate support. With bipartisan support and a clear vision from the “Right Help, Right Now” initiative, there is cautious optimism for meaningful reform. Nonetheless, careful attention to the details and sustained efforts are necessary to ensure the well-being of both officers and individuals facing mental health crises, avoiding the tragic outcomes of an overwhelmed system.
