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Mental health groups push for funding

Hundreds of people gathered on the Statehouse lawn today demanding that cuts for mental health service be stopped.

Organizers from the Mental Health Summit claimed that the state was being "penny wise and pound foolish" on services to those with mental disabilities.

Mark Heyrman, facilitator with the Mental Health Summit, said the state is not spending money wisely on community mental health services.

"The state is moving in the wrong direction in terms of the proposed budget, and we're hoping that the word proposed is all it ever gets to be," Heyrmann said. "In fact, the proposed budget spends more money on institutions and less money on community mental health service."

More than $90 million for community mental health services would be eliminated in Gov. Pat Quinn's proposed budget. Lawmakers are trying to put a spending plan together and adjourn by the end of the week.

The state also has a backlog of bills to community-based organizations, which requires them to borrow money. But banks are wary about loaning money to organizations that are owed money from the state.

"If I'm on the board of one of these providers, I say we have to fire people," Heyrman said. "We can't borrow any more money."

Dr. J. Srinivasaraghavan, president-elect of the Illinois Psychiatric Society, said if the state goes ahead with the cuts it could lead to more homelessness and more crime.

State Capitol Bureau