Comments on: State looks to close one of four mental health institutions in Iowa

By: Kerbchek

Kerbchek — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:19:30 +0000

The Kirbride is a huge building… probably not necessary for less than 100 patients! Sell the Kirkbride to a casino developer (imagine the grand building all fixed up to is original glory), move the MHI to a smaller facility, and triple the available jobs in the area!! Whatever happens, shrinking the number of mental health hospital beds in Iowa will be a mistake. Cutting services should absolutely NOT be an option, however abandoning a huge buildging will cost the state millions in the long run to dispose of, so a reuse plan for those structures is a must, whatever it would be, if closing becomes and option (which I really hope doesn't happen right now)

By: ctiger

ctiger — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:35:35 +0000

Don't you feel blessed?

By: JohnNone

JohnNone — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:22:51 +0000

Thank you, Jesus, for that cameo appearance.

By: solby

solby — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:41:09 +0000

LET'S LOOK AT THE FACILITY IT SELF. THESE ARE HUGE ENERGY WASTING BUILDINGS THAT ARE COSTING TAX PAYERS MEGA MONEY. I AGREE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS ALWAYS PUSHED TO THE BACK BURNER. IF THEY REORGANIZED AND MOVED TO A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT FACILITY THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE MORE PATIENTS. tHE DAY OF 1200 PATIENTS IS LONG GONE FOR THE MHI. THAT IS WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR LONG AGO.
95 PATIENTS IN THAT SIZE OF BUILDING IS CRAZY. THAT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED EVEN TO JUST 20 YEARS AGO. THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE BETTER STEP UP AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION OR YOU WILL LOSE THESE JOBS.

By: laurenD

laurenD — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:55:31 +0000

This is really concerning. After the Reagan administration cut funding for mental institutions we have seen a huge rise in violent crimes and sex crimes. Closing more of these facilities is not the answer.

By: Jesus33

Jesus33 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:33:13 +0000

The picure on the Gazette Police Blotter is David Arthur Melsha being arrested on July, 23, 2007 at 2016 Linn Blvd. SE.
They have cropped his head,but everyone who knows Dave and now others know too.

Refer to Gazetter Archives for this party goer arrest for running over his friend.

http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/Defau... for David's arrest record that will prove this. Refer to case 06571 NTCR797466 (LINN)

I am being censored off the blotter for providing this information.

By: Jesus33

Jesus33 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:33:01 +0000

The picure on the Gazette Police Blotter is David Arthur Melsha being arrested on July, 23, 2007 at 2016 Linn Blvd. SE.
They have cropped his head,but everyone who knows Dave and now others know too.

Refer to Gazetter Archives for this party goer arrest for running over his friend.

http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/Defau... for David's arrest record that will prove this. Refer to case 06571 NTCR797466 (LINN)

I am being censored off the blotter for providing this information.

By: FreeCountry

FreeCountry — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:51:53 +0000

I'm all for re-evalutating programs etc, and maximum efficiency, but even thinking about closing one of these types of facilities is insanity in itself. There are a multitude of places our beloved state governor and legislature could cut costs from, if they chose, that do not impact people's and society's mental health and safety.
It beyond angers me that mental health is always the first place many people look to cut, and then a few weeks/months later scream "why did XYZ act of violence" take place (homicide, suicide, whatever). Mental health is no less important than physical health and we see the evidence every day of that, in society.
Iowa is in a critical shortage of mental health providers, especially in the rural areas. What our goofus government SHOULD be doing is looking how to ramp up recruitment into the field, retain providers already trained, etc.
I am so glad that so many people turned out to express their views on this. Bless them.

By: bamoxiclean

bamoxiclean — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:00:25 +0000

And with the state of the world today, that list is going to keep growing.

By: Marionite

Marionite — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:22:40 +0000

I know budgets are real tight, but these facilities are very needed. The mere fact that there is a wait list to go there should say something. Closing one is not the solution.