Mental health task force delivers final report to HHS committee

Nine formal recommendations to improve Minnesota’s mental health system were met with widespread support Tuesday by the House Health and Human Resources Reform Committee.

Claire Wilson, assistant human services commissioner, outlined the final report from a mental health task force appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton that found the state provides a variety of effective services but lacks “a comprehensive continuum of care.”

The Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health said such a continuum would promote wellness, prevent mental illness where possible and provide support for the mentally ill to recover in their home communities.

“The mental health system has not been fully developed yet,” Wilson said.

WATCH Full video of Tuesday's House Health and Human Services Reform Committee hearing 

The task force made nine recommendations:

1. Create a comprehensive continuum of care
2. Strengthen governance of the mental health system
3. Use a cultural lens to reduce mental health disparities
4. Develop a mental health workforce
5. Achieve parity
6. Promote mental health and prevent illnesses
7. Achieve housing stability
8. Make short-term improvements to acute care capacity
9. Make short-term improvements to crisis response

More than a dozen testifiers offered support for the work done by the task force, although several identified areas of concern or potential changes they believe are needed.

The 24-member committee was comprised of mental health advocates, service providers, state officials, lawmakers, educators and representatives of individuals and families with lived mental illness experience. It met during the summer and fall of 2016.