In its most recent report, the 2014-2015 San
Luis Obispo County Grand Jury examines adult access to mental health services
in San Luis Obispo County, and recommends eight actions to improve county
services.
They found that up to 45 days could pass
before an adult requesting help actually meets with a professional, and up to
60 days before receiving a diagnosis. To decrease such delays, they recommend
improvements to the county’s current use of two separate hotlines, process
changes for hiring and managing its psychiatric support staff, and taking
proactive outreach to clients with pending appointments. It also recommended
physical changes to the county’s psychiatric health facility.
Finally the report recommends that San Luis
Obispo County establish a crisis stabilization unit to bridge the gap between
mobile crisis intervention and inpatient hospitalization at its existing
psychiatric health facility. Similar units already exist in places such as
Fresno and Santa Cruz counties.
In its conclusion, they noted, “all people
interviewed, especially those in their positions for a long period of time,
believe the county has instituted best practices and is very good at providing
mental health services. These same individuals also recognize mental health
services could be improved.”
The full transcript of grand jury reports is
at www.slocourts.net/grand_jury.
May
21, 2015
Paso
Robles Daily News
By News Staff
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