EDITORIAL: Fear of Facility Understandable, But Mentally Ill Are Already Here

Aug. 19--Fear is an understandable reaction when something new and perceivably dangerous arrives in your neighborhood.

An Eshom Road resident voiced that emotion during a meeting of the Port of Centralia Wednesday. The announcement of a new Cascade Mental Health facility within the Port was jarring to her and others, she told the commissioners.

The sale of the property was authorized by port commissioners in July for $403,365.60. The lot, located next to the port office, will house a facility between 18,000 and 23,000 square feet.

Her feelings are understandable. It's no one's place to tell her she has no reason to fear the implications of the 22-bed facility, but there is evidence and history to indicate there will be few if any issues.

Cascade Mental Health serves a broad a diverse population suffering from everything from depression to schizophrenia. For years, it has done so without increasing crime or disruptions in the neighborhoods where it operates. We trust that will be the case this time as well.

The new facility will be nothing like a psychiatric hospital, Cascade CEO Richard Stride said. It will offer a transitional place for those suffering from mental health to get treatment.

"We will not take individuals that are not medically cleared by the hospital," he said, adding the facility will provide a safe place for people experiencing mental issues to get stabilized on medication and receive counseling.

A commenter made another fair point on The Chronicle's Facebook page Thursday.

It's not as if the facility will create people with mental illnesses. Those people already exist, many without any real options for treatment.

If anything, the new facility holds the ability to create a safer community.

"Mental health is a broad spectrum," wrote Christy Fisher. "Creating fear in the unknown adds to the stigma of seeking help. Every time a school shooting occurs, the first thing people get angry about is lack of attention towards mental health help. I applaud this step. Many times, those on the streets are there because of mental health instability. They are already in 'your area' living amongst you."

As we've said before, we're happy to see increased assistance for those suffering from a mental illness.

We hope, over time, Cascade's new facility is able to win the approval of uneasy neighbors who fear the implications on their lives and property.

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