Comments on: Criticism for Arnold’s plan to cut mental health http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2009/01/27/criticism-for-arnolds-plan-to-cut-mental-health/ Politics in the Bay Area and beyond Tue, 21 May 2013 06:38:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Ruth4Equality http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2009/01/27/criticism-for-arnolds-plan-to-cut-mental-health/comment-page-1/#comment-7447 Ruth4Equality Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:10:34 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=4971#comment-7447 I have suffered from acute clinical depression my entire life. I am now 63 and began seeking mental health care/help for this in my late 20s. It was a fruitless effort, what was available in the state for those without private funds was negligent psychiatrists and therapists who changed from visit to visit and did not bother to even read my file or attempt to help. The newer anti-depressants were not prescribed, only those which had generic clones. New discoveries in medications were considered too expensive.

Prop 63 has changed all of that. Today I no longer live in the deep, black, pit of despair that overwhelmed me for 61 years. I have meds that work and a therapist who works closely with me. I also have group therapies which are extremely helpful and focused on self-help and self-awareness. To no longer just exist – but have a life I look forward to living, this is a miracle.

Is this what you consider “ala carte” government spending? BTW – the “government” is not now in charge of this fund – prop 63 set up an organization run by professional mental health care individuals to “spend” – but the government did initiate so much red-tape that the spending in full is slow. Once a program is approved and established – it is a life-saving initiative.

]]> By: Arne Simonsen http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2009/01/27/criticism-for-arnolds-plan-to-cut-mental-health/comment-page-1/#comment-7446 Arne Simonsen Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:46:11 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/?p=4971#comment-7446 The Schwarzenegger is right on this one. Prop 63 was a bad initiative that has furthered “ala carte” government spending, further tying the hands of the State during dire financial times like we are currently experiencing.

In truth, the Governor and Legislature should be looking at every new or expanded program it has approved since 2000 and eliminate them.

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