Editor,

In light of what’s been going on in the prison system here on Whidbey Island I think it’s time that we start a conversation about mental health care More in this country.

The steps being taken for inmates are a wonderful start. I’d like to take it one step further. Once the inmates have been correctly diagnosed with a mental illness, what happens next?

They are released from jail and sent out into the world without any resources or direction. Where do they go, who should they see for follow-up care, and how will they pay for that care? I would like to speak on the subject of mental health care from a personal perspective.

In 2000, I suffered a traumatic brain injury. I was airlifted to Harborview where I spent nine days, three of which were in intensive care. I was released to my family and they were told to have me follow up with my doctor.

With all due respect to these professionals, what does my family doctor know about mental health care? Unfortunately we found road block after road block. Just searching for a support group for family members of a loved one suffering mental illness due to a brain injury was a challenge.

There was one group in Bellingham that met once a month. After many wasted years and money we finally found the care I need. This only happened because I became very proactive in my care. I do a lot of research regarding treatment and medication. This was not an easy undertaking.

There are very few psychiatrists or therapists on the island. Needless to say this became a very daunting task. At first we had trouble even finding one.

The point that I’m trying to make here is that mental health care in this country is not just hard to find, quite often it is non-existent. So let’s start that conversation.

Colleen Herrick

Oak Harbor