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YOUR LETTERS
Mentally ill patients need their families nearby; Twin Valley integral to community
Friday, March 07, 2008
Mentally ill patients need their families nearby
The definition of mental illness can be quite complex. I believe everyone, at some point in their lives, has experienced some form of mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, or as a result of abuse, etc.
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Some have been fortunate enough to be able to overcome these problems by having financial means, support, employment benefits and self-motivation. Other less-fortunate individuals have depended on Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare for proper medications, social stimulation, counseling, support and an alternative to suicide or death.
Many patients depend on the visits they get from local family members and friends to keep them "going." Transferring them to Cincinnati, Toledo or Columbus without transferring their families or loved ones is condemning them to death.
Most people do not understand mental illness. We understand physical diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and others; however, we are scared to face mental disease.
Do we really need a Schuster Center, Victoria Theatre, a baseball park and RiverScape at the expense of people's lives?
Think about it. It could easily be you some day, needing Twin Valley or similar services. In Dayton, where will you turn?
— Susan A. Rowland
Dayton
Twin Valley integral to community
I am working toward my doctorate in psychology at Wright State's School of Professional Psychology. I was shocked and disheartened to hear about the slated closure of Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare.
My first thought was that the patients are losing a place where they receive care in an environment where they feel safe. They are being shipped off to other facilities; some of them are essentially losing their home. They are being forced to move to a new place where they do not know the staff and vice versa. In the future, when people from Dayton need care, they will have to get it outside of their community. This vulnerable population will lose its support networks, family and community.
My second thought was for all the people who are losing their jobs. Many will be forced to look for jobs in other cities. This is a detriment to Dayton's mental-health community.
My third thought was a selfish one. The loss of Twin Valley is huge for those of us training to be psychologists and psychiatrists. It is one of the few forensic training facilities for my program. My colleagues who have worked there speak highly of the experience doing practica, internships and post-doctoral work at Twin Valley.
I strongly urge Gov. Ted Strickland to reconsider his decision to close Twin Valley. While an insignificant factor in the state budget, it is integral to my community, and its services are invaluable.
— Sarah Koerner
Englewood
