Posted on: Saturday, November 13, 2004
Advocates praise changes
| • | Feds to end oversight of state mental hospital |
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Federal Magistrate Kevin Chang's recommendations for Hawai'i State Hospital recognize major improvements for the mentally ill in recent years, mental health advocates said yesterday.
Ken Wilson executive director of the Mental Health Association of Hawai'i, praised the improvement he has seen at the state hospital. "I'm glad the state hospital has improved its services to consumers, to the residents there," he said.
He said he sees signs of continuing improvement of mental health services across the state. Wilson said the community attitude is changing from a time when people with mental illness were shunned to a recognition of the treatment they need to get better.
Wilson credited Thomas Hester, chief of the adult mental health division for the state Health Department, with a key role in the significant improvements. "Dr. Hester has put in many long hours and has worked diligently to take corrective action," Wilson said.
Bud Bowles, executive director of the Office of United Self Help, especially praised the recommendations to develop community programs that will shift people to treatment.
"There're too many people without housing, not knowing where to go," Bowles said. "We need to give these people treatment instead of punishment. It can help them get a life."
Bowles said mental health treatment has come a long way since locking people up in institutions was considered the standard treatment. He hopes the community plans include more beds available for people in crisis and ways to cut the red tape for people setting up housing for the mentally ill.
