Gov. Nixon discusses mental health in Warrensburg

Aug. 06--WARRENSBURG -- Gov. Jay Nixon met with area law enforcement and mental health care providers to discuss ways to continue improving Missouri's mental health care.

"The millions we have invested in making mental health care more accessible is a small price to pay to help keep our law enforcement officers safe as they risk their lives to protect us," Nixon said in a statement. "By strengthening our mental health care system, we are also helping Missourians in crisis get the care they need to stay safe and get healthy."

During the roundtable, law enforcement and mental health care providers from around the state discussed the progress being made in growing Missouri's mental health system.

Nixon said this has been a top priority during his time in office.

In 2013, he called for a series of fiscally responsible measures to improve the way Missouri cares for individuals whose severe behavioral health conditions have gone untreated.

Working with the General Assembly, he secured $10 million annually for the Strengthening Mental Health Initiative. The initiative will be expanded this year.

The initiative placed 31 community mental health liaisons state wide to work with law enforcement and court personnel to connect people in behavioral mental health crises to treatment.

Dawn Morris, a CMHL, talked about some of the positive interactions she has had helping those in a crises find help.

"If I had an hour, I could tell you why I love this job so much," she said.

Morris said she enjoys hearing all the positive interactions Missouri agencies have had with CMHLs.

"It's amazing" she said.

Sheriff Scott Munsterman said it was amazing to hear everyone talk about the success they've had working with Morris.

"It's very important for the agencies in this county," Musterman said.

He said having Morris help in situations where officers encounter someone with a mental illness is important because jail won't always help that person.

He said having Morris allows the patient to get the help he or she needs.

Nixon said he is pleased with the work so far but knows the efforts need to continue.

"When we get programs as the chiefs and sheriff said that are working, you wanna make sure they get the support they need from the legislature and I think they will," he said.

Nixon said there are always ways to continue to protect and support officers and continuing to improve the mental health care system in Missouri is one of those ways.

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