Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!
0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8d530000

Hassan Signs $11 Million Mental Health Package

Todd Bookman
/
NHPR

Governor Hassan has signed legislation designed to strengthen the state’s mental health system, a result of a class-action lawsuit filed in 2012.

The law allocates roughly $11 million through next fiscal year for increased community-based treatment options including supportive housing and crisis response teams. It is the first portion of a $30 million settlement agreement reached in December.

The Disabilities Rights Center and U.S. Department of Justice had sued the state in federal court over its lack of adequate care for people with mental illness.

“We need to offer the right care, at the right time, at the right place, just as we would for anyone suffering from any kind of illness or medical challenge,” says Hassan.

“The community-level approach reflected in this bill builds on the significant progress we made in our bipartisan budget to strengthen community-based mental health services in a fiscally responsible way that protects our budget and ensures improvements in our mental health system are being driven by our citizens and not federal judges.”

Advocates say the funding will help restore New Hampshire’s strained system, and keep people in mental health crisis out of ill-equipped emergency rooms. 

Todd started as a news correspondent with NHPR in 2009. He spent nearly a decade in the non-profit world, working with international development agencies and anti-poverty groups. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University.
Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.