One-two punch for mental health in Savannah

A commission studying mental health in Georgia says, the Department of Human Resources should explain itself better before going forward with a proposal to close or privatize mental health hospitals.

The proposal would close some mental hospitals and move patients to community-based mental health facilities. The first hospital to close would be the one in Savannah, where a community-based mental health collaborative is shutting down.

Diane Reeder is President of the National Alliance for Mental Illness Savannah chapter. "This is a disaster," Reader says. "We're appalled at our state's ability to provide mental health services."

The Savannah Area Behavioral Health Collaborative is shutting down following a year of turmoil among its members. D.H.R. is proposing the state hospital shut-down to deal with sky-rocketing costs at an aging facility.

Members of the state's Mental Health Service Delivery Commission say, they don't have enough information to recommend for or against the proposal. Among the things they'd like to know: where would the patients go?