Hennepin County commissioners learned Thursday that the county continues to make strides in treating adults with mental illness, but the cost has leapt significantly and the population served is more complex and diverse.
The board heard the findings and recommendations of a mental health system review it requested in January as part of its 2019 budget process. Commissioners asked about needs, service gaps and potential improvements. The review will guide how the county moves forward with its mental health strategies.
Successes included a reduction in emergency room visits and inpatient hospitalizations and fewer rebookings of jail inmates who worked with an embedded social worker.
The bad news was the rising cost of helping the growing number of people dealing with mental illness. Last year, the county spent $51 million, and that doesn't include payments covered by Medicaid. As the state contributes fewer dollars for treatment, the county relies heavily on property taxes to cover costs.
"Mental health is health, just like taking care of physical and nutritional health," said Commissioner Irene Fernando. "Hennepin County is a leader. People are paying attention."
The report stressed that the county needs to continue to accelerate efforts to develop community supports that can help people living with mental illness stabilize their symptoms and pursue recovery in the least restrictive settings.
Leah Kaiser, the county's senior department administrator for behavioral health, said clear patterns and themes appeared during the review.
The county's mental health services are fragmented and weighted toward crisis responses and hospitalization instead of early intervention, she said. Treatment of mental health and substance-use disorders is poorly integrated, and mentally ill defendants are likely to end up in institutional care, she said.
