Editorials / Opinion

The Legislature must resolve weaknesses throughout the public mental-health crisis system, including adequate psychiatric bed capacity, extending non-institutional intensive treatment options and updating the judicial process [“Lawmakers consider ways to improve mental-health services,” Local News, Feb. 10]. When the system works properly, it can halt the downward spiral of a person’s psychiatric illness. But…

Regarding “Judge sets March 16 for trial for mentally ill in jails case” [Local News, Oct. 22], the decision is a positive move forward, but does not address the larger issue. Most people involved seem to agree rights are being violated but there is no remedy. I am concerned by why they are in…

Washington state is one of the most progressive parts of the country. But when it comes to providing emergency psychiatric beds to individuals undergoing mental health crisis, Washington ranks a dismal 47th in the United States [“Escaping the mental-health abyss,” Opinion, Oct. 13]. Providing more beds in order to cut down on the prolonged…

Thank you for including Jonathan Martin’s column, “Escaping the mental-health abyss” [Opinion, Oct. 13]. He speaks to a major issue facing our state. Washington’s mental-health system has been struggling for years to maintain enough beds. We’ve seen this very clearly with the large increase of psychiatric boarding over the last few years. In 2012,…

In response to Jonathan Martin’s column “Escaping the mental-health abyss” [Opinion, Oct. 13], I’d like to add some comments. First, there are far too many mentally ill people in jail in general. Because of the values society has placed on them, they are automatically seen as outcast, which is very similar to criminals. Until we see…

The editorial “Ending exclusions under state’s mental-health parity law” [Opinion, Oct. 14] truly illustrates how crucial it is for the local government to intervene and support individuals who live with mental illness through all sorts of treatments. Courts are now needed to make sure insurance options are more inclusive and mental-health treatment is…

The Reuters’ guest column understandably laments their son’s death [“Ask candidates about reforms to mental-health care and Joel’s Law,” Opinion, Sept. 24]. He was shot by the police. He had been prematurely released from a hospital. The Reuter’s fault mental-health professionals for not listening to the them. I too believe in assisted outpatient treatment…

In the story “Mentally ill charged with crimes lack timely access to hospital care” [Local News, Sept. 13], the whole system is a crime against humanity that no civilized society should allow to happen. The King County Jail alone has more than 100 mentally ill inmates waiting for hospital beds — and my son…

Partnerships can help The decision by the Washington State Supreme Court to close the door on warehousing psychiatric patients and the extensive reporting in The Seattle Times about the shambles of the mental-health system have been most encouraging [“What’s troubling mental health,” Opinion, Aug. 17]. Valiant mental-health officials are scrambling to respond to the crisis. But…

When I heard about the death of Robin Williams, I felt profoundly sad [“Actor Robin Williams dies at 63,” Nation & World, Aug. 11]. The words of his wife resonate: “This morning I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human…