Templeton psychiatric hospital would save lives

Dear Tom Fulks: Well done, and amen! (“Proposed psychiatric hospital in Templeton is a beacon of hope,” Feb. 27)

Try as San Luis Obispo County Mental Health Services might — and many staff there do — the agency’s funding and mandate simply can’t keep up with the need. Forensic mental health programs don’t apply to most local mentally ill folks because of legal and funding constraints. Private health insurance coverage is too often a game of catch-me-if-you-can.

A private psychiatric hospital won’t solve all these problems, but it will certainly save lives.

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 9:32 PM with the headline "Templeton psychiatric hospital would save lives."