Monday August 10, 2009, 1:47 am
At least 32 states cut their community mental health programs by an average of 5 percent this year and plan to double those budget reductions by 2010, according to a recent survey of state mental health offices.

Juvenile prisons have been the caretaker of last resort for troubled children since the 1980s, but mental health experts say the system is in crisis, facing a soaring number of inmates reliant on multiple — and powerful — psychotropic drugs and a shortage of therapists.

But youths are often subjected to neglect and violence in juvenile prisons, and studies show that mental illnesses can become worse there.

The investigators also recounted how staff members body slammed unruly juveniles, often breaking their bones.

Census studies of child mental health professionals show chronic shortages. A 2006 study estimated that for every 100,000 youths, there were fewer than nine child psychiatrists. Dr. Penn of Texas said the state youth prison system there recently instituted a system of telepsychiatry sessions, conducting videoconferences between mental health professionals and youths being detained hundreds of miles away.

Monday August 10, 2009, 3:03 am
Thank you for putting up this story, Kat. It stresses a very painful and unacceptable public issue.

Monday August 10, 2009, 3:12 am
Wow, interesting. Thanks for posting & sharing.

Monday August 10, 2009, 4:45 am
Thank you Peace, for this story, Community care for the mentally ill has shrunk so badly that 1,25 million mentally il patients who should be in community outreach, are in prison, This dreadful circumstance arose when the states closes all of their mental health hospitals during the Reagan years,

Half of the homeless are also mentally ill. Another problem caused my Reagan who cut housing assistance at the same time the mentally ill were being put out on the street,

To understand just how terrible the situation is where a disability is punished instead of treated, look into the Care 2 group "Assistance for the Incarcerated Mentally Ill:.

Monday August 10, 2009, 7:07 am
The mentally ill should not be in prison. They should be in an institution receiving treatment. Thanks Kat.

Monday August 10, 2009, 7:55 am
Thanks for this story Cal!!!