Nixon promotes mental health initiative

Jan. 14--CHILLICOTHE, Mo. -- Saving lives, easing decisions for police and encouraging family support are all components of a recent state mental health program that's marking early successes.

Gov. Jay Nixon stopped at the offices of the Chillicothe, Mo., Fire Department on Tuesday afternoon to speak on the initiative -- which he touted as already providing vital care to thousands of Missourians.

The Democratic governor hosted a roundtable discussion with area mental health officials, along with law enforcement, judges and others involved in rendering the services. Mr. Nixon said he came to Livingston County to hear stories from those directly involved in the campaign. He called for the start of community mental health liaisons following such tragedies as the school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

"It galvanizes the discussions," he said of the impetus for changes of approach to mental health care. "We are here today as a tangible step."

Mr. Nixon told an audience gathered at the fire station for the roundtable there are several methods the state is reviewing toward enhancing treatment: intervening with hospital emergency rooms, making a historic investment in mental health funding and placing 29 liaisons within community mental health centers. A better understanding of the issues is also occurring, he said.

"We have trained thousands of folks about mental health first aid," he said, adding Missouri is among the top three states in the nation in that category.

Since the project began in fall 2013, officials have made more than 14,000 contacts with clients and handled more than 7,500 referrals for service. Yet the governor indicated more data analysis is needed to properly assess the impact.

"That level of demand is pretty significant," Mr. Nixon said. "We're going to make sure the people who need help get it."

Dr. Daniel Isom, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said law enforcement's views on the topic have shifted significantly since he began a career in the field 25 years ago.

"We didn't really learn how to deal with mental health issues," he said, citing police academy training. "It gives people who are suffering the help they need," Dr. Isom said of the liaisons.

Mark Stringer, of the state's Division of Behavioral Health, said those positions are based on a model of mental health coordinators once used in Missouri.

"The project was useful to some law enforcement officers," he told the panel. "We'd like to do more in the future."

But the governor saved his biggest praise for Kayce Sampsel, the liaison serving nine north-central Missouri counties. He referred to her as the "point of the spear" in the initiative.

Ms. Sampsel has received 160 referrals from the start of the outreach. Her tasks have featured linking clients to community resources such as housing and finances.

"I look at what the consumer says they need," she said.

Some of the inquiries deal with how best to transport someone to a facility for treatment. A meeting of judges, police and hospital personnel helped establish congruence on those services.

Harrison County Judge Thomas Alley said ordering a 96-hour hold for a patient is an easy maneuver, but ends up costing people with no insurance and taxpayers alike.

"I try to get ahold of Kayce," he said of the preferred alternative. Reaching out to family for support is also essential in addressing the problem, he added.

"That gives me comfort in not signing that order," Mr. Alley said. "It's a wonderful thing."

Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox commended the system of liaisons and said the number of 96-hour hold requests has dropped as a consequence.

"She's an angel for law enforcement," Mr. Cox said of Ms. Sampsel. "I don't think we report to her as often as we should."

The governor also used the forum as another opportunity to call on lawmakers to approve an expansion of Medicaid in Missouri under the Affordable Care Act.

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