AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers are setting the stage for an expansion of a mental health unit at Maine State Prison. A committee that will oversee the newly expanded mental health wing in Warren met for the first time Tuesday. The unit is set to open in February. Gov. Paul LePage signed a bill to […]
mental health
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mainers urged to raise awareness of mental illness
AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage and advocates are seeking to raise awareness and education about mental illness in Maine. The Republican governor declared Oct. 6-12 Mental Illness Awareness Week. Maine’s chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness said one in four Maine residents are affected by mental illnesses like severe anxiety disorder, bipolar […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Feds cut funding for Riverview Psychiatric Center
AUGUSTA — The federal government notified the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday that it is terminating Riverview Psychiatric Center’s Medicare Provider Agreement, essentially shutting off some $20 million in annual federal funding at the state-run Augusta hospital. DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew vowed to appeal the Center for Medicaid Services’ decision. “The decision […]
Posted inLetters
In Rebuttal, G. Dunne: The underlying problem
While there is little doubt that Maine’s mental health system is in serious need of reform, housing difficult patients in the Maine State Prison is not the solution (editorial, Sept. 15: “Riverview’s most dangerous patients must be moved”). The criminal justice and mental health systems are separate entities and should remain that way. Those found […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Mentally ill more likely to be in prison than a hospital
The move in the Legislature came as Riverview faced the prospect of losing $20 million in federal funds after an unannounced inspection of the 92-bed facility by federal officials. In an 88-page inspection report, the officials pointed out a number of deficiencies that put the funding at risk, from a failure to ensure staff and […]