Caring for those with Mental Health and Addiction Issues

I remember taking a stroll through Barnard Park, walking from my Congress Street office to grab some Sancocho for lunch on Park street. I couldn’t help but notice hundreds of homeless people crowding the small inner-city block-sized park. Many of them were hungry and asking for money for food. Some were jonesing for a fix. Many of them struggled with mental health issues. Sadly, just a few months before this, the overwhelming majority of these people were getting the needed services because the state provided mental health and addiction services to help these disadvantaged people through their processes.

They were not getting the services they needed because Governor Malloy made the tough decision, as he called it, to cut more than $7 million in funding for people with mental health and addiction needs. That was the figure that was reported. Some people have postulated that more than $30 million would be a more accurate accounting. Nonetheless, after Malloy made this decision, the aftermath was drastic. 

Homelessness increased throughout Connecticut, mainly in the cities but also in suburban towns. 

Dr. Aaron Lewis

Homelessness increased throughout Connecticut, mainly in the cities but also in suburban towns. 

Our Present Administration

Fast forward to our present administration, which inherited and maintained the status quo of his predecessor, Governor Lamont had widely disregarded the problem. It’s not that he doesn’t know the problem exists, but he doesn’t believe in making real and calculatable strides toward fixing it. This year, Mr. Lamont shared that he was apportioning $130 million toward the problem. Instead of the problem being aptly categorized as mental health and addiction services, the name changed to behavioral health services. These changes have long concerned me because with these name changes come funds flowing in a misappropriated direction, away from the people who need the services.

With these new resources specifically designated to help people with mental health and addictive needs suddenly arising after having been ignored throughout his entire administration, a few questions arise.

How much was the problem with mental health and addictions exacerbated during the past two years because our Governor failed to act responsibly to the national health crisis?

Dr. Aaron Lewis

Is it possible that much of the funding is now being released to cover up a massive problem he helped conflate? Finally, how much has he and his family personally profited from our state of affairs in the past two years that would urge him to facilitate this move?

Putting our Hearts in the Right Place

My heart goes out to every person in our state and country who has dealt with mental health issues and addictions to any substance.

Dr. Aaron Lewis

I have tremendous compassion for the families who courageously did all they could to help their loved ones as much as possible. My hat is off to the health care workers who get up every day and go to work to help people that much of society has canceled. The need for mental health and addiction services should never be an item to decide on eliminating or defunding. We as Americans have consistently thrived when we ensure that people who suffer from mental health and addictive issue receive the treatment that they deserve.

It makes our communities safer, families less stressed, and give the recipients of the care—HOPE.

I am committed to keeping people my first and foremost focus. And the people who cannot properly care for their needs will be able to count on us under a Lewis administration. Let’s do it together and get the needed services and keep them current for as long as they need them.

Dr. Aaron Lewis