CO's 24-hr mental hlth crisis centers (response to Aurora shooting) stalled by suit

[HereSince1628]

State’s key mental-health system on hold
Lawsuit delays crisis centers

By KRISTIN JONES

Tom Sullivan knows the value of getting treatment for mental-health problems. His son Alex was killed in the Aurora theater massacre in 2012, the victim of a man who seemed to think he was the Joker in a Batman movie. James Holmes’ sanity is a key question in his ongoing prosecution. But the shooting led Gov. John Hickenlooper to lay plans for 24-hour crisis centers meant to catch untreated mental illness and maybe avert the next mass shooting.

For Sullivan and the other survivors and family members affected by the Aurora shooting, though, mental-health services fill a more immediate need. They provide support for surviving trauma.

“The people that did survive but weren’t physically hurt are having all kinds of problems. There have been drug problems, alcohol problems. Families have been torn apart,” said Sullivan, who says his family has benefited from the trauma-recovery groups convened by Aurora Mental Health Center. “Day to day, our lives are pretty complex, and when those types of things get added on top of it, it makes it all a little bit harder.”

But the $18.5 million set aside for Hickenlooper’s major mental-health initiative won’t be spent. Not this year at least, and the prospects for next year’s budget look uncertain, too.

For now, the crisis centers are on hold.

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http://durangoherald.com/article/20140322/NEWS01/140329814/-1/News01/State%E2%80%99s-key-mental-health-system-on-hold--

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Yes, CO believes the private sector brings nimble response and efficiencies to society's mental health care needs. I suppose we'll get some chance of witnessing all that --AFTER-- that big state contract is litigated for years.

[fizzgig]

1. i had no idea they were contracting that out