TYLER (KYTX) - Funding cuts to mental health services could have a devastating impact on the community, that's according to the Andrews Behavioral Center in Tyler.
The state of Texas is looking to cut millions in funding to Tyler's mental health programs. Without those service advocates say more mentally ill will wind up in jail, in emergency rooms or on the streets, shifting the burden to East Texas taxpayers.
"People like me this is the only place we've got," explained Kit Richardson. For the last 23 years, Kit Richardson has relied on the Andrews Center in Tyler to get him through his darkest times. "I go every week to see them and I get my medicines every week."
Richardson battles severe depression. He has been homeless and in and out of hospitals. The Andrews Center gave him hope, and kept him off the streets.
"I'm able to function regularly," Richardson added. "I still have abnormal times but I'm pretty sane most of the time."
Each month, the Andrews Center serves 2,000 children and adults with depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The waiting list for help is six months to a year and continues to grow.
"Most people come in from off the street and are self referral or are having issues having a crisis," explained Valerie Holcomb with the Andrews Center.
With a potential $4-million dollar budget cut, services could be slashed, and without medications and treatment, Holcomb said her clients could end up in emergency rooms or locked up. "Usually they end up in jail for minor crimes and its very expensive to serve these folks in jail."
She said that's because the mentally ill are not put with the general jail.
It costs $137 a day to house people in jail who are mentally ill. The Andrews Center said it's cost to treat them is $12 a day.
So if the cuts happen, the Center argued, the financial burden will be shifted to the local tax payer and local agencies, like PATH.
"Hundred of them will end up coming to PATH because they don't have stability anymore,
added Christina Fulsom, Executive Director at PATH.
She said without stability, many of the mentally ill will become homeless. "There will be hundreds of people on the streets that would exhibit psychosis people will be uncomfortable around them and perhaps scared. I think its going to have a huge impact on our community."
Richardson said he hopes that won't happen and prays the place he's relied on for help will be able to continue helping others.
The largest psychiatric institution in Texas is not a hospital, its the Harris County Jail in Houston. In Texas, a person with mental illness is eight times more likely to end up in jail than in a psychiatric hospital.
