Kansas mental health providers are proposing ways to close what they say are growing gaps in the state’s mental health system. Kyle Kessler heads the state association of community mental health centers. He’s scheduled a meeting at the Kansas Statehouse today (THUR) to outline the group’s proposals to lawmakers.
Providers want Governor Sam Brownback and lawmakers to establish a network of centers to stabilize people in crisis who might otherwise end up in state hospitals, emergency rooms or jails. There are currently two such centers, one in Kansas City and one in Wichita. Mental health advocates say crisis centers are also needed in northeast, southeast and western Kansas.
