‘Healthy Minds’ Network Looks to Help Inmates With Mental Health
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Members of law enforcement joined local leaders as the Healthy Mind Network announced it will be apart of the Stepping Up Summit, to help fight against the rapid growth of mental health issues in jails. Only 50 counties across the U.S. are invited. Several commissioners, sheriffs, and other representatives will also attend the summit in Washington D.C. They say it’s a big need for the jails in the river region.
“What we’re seeing is a percentage of individuals that are placed in community corrections and those that exit custody of any kind. We have nearly 20 percent of that number come out with serious mental health problems,” said Paul Brown, the Executive Director of Montgomery County Corrections.
Officials hope that going to Washington will also help them receive funding through grants. Mental health has seen big cuts in the state in the past few years. Statistics show more than 60 million Americans are affected by mental health issues every year.
