This commentary is by Christina Deeley of Hinesburg, a mother of four who works as a librarian and diversity, equity and inclusion coach. She is a member of the Emerge Vermont Class of 2020.
In 2017, Vermont author Ron Power wrote a book titled “No One Cares About Crazy People: My Family and the Heartbreak of Mental Illness in America.” The title can seem like a bit much to many, but for those of us who have loved ones living with mental illness, we know the title is incredibly accurate.
Vermont does not care about folks with mental illness, especially children with mental illness.
Over the past few years, the major Vermont news outlets have written dozens of stories about the horrible access to care for children with mental illness. At the same time, numerous politicians have highlighted the importance of “mental illness” as a reason to end Covid restrictions. But no serious efforts to improve access to mental health treatments have occurred. No hiring or recruitment efforts to fill the hundreds of mental health job openings that exist across the state.
The Vermont Legislature has chosen to financially reward remote workers when they move to Vermont, but have never considered compensating mental health care workers. In addition to the lack of mental health care providers, no pediatric psychiatric beds have been added.
The recent VTDigger article about the Vermont Care Board and UVM Medical Center once again failing to take meaningful action on child psychiatric services is another example of the state’s refusal to advance child psychiatric care in Vermont. My life experiences have ensured that I am acutely aware of how few child psychiatric beds are available. I know that some of the few bed options for kids are Jarrett House, Brattleboro Retreat, and sometimes CVPH in Plattsburgh.
Loving a child with mental illness is something that no parenting book can ever prepare you for. Being told that the waitlists are full. Waiting 6-18 months for an appointment with child psychiatry. Seeing adult psych residents because there are so few child psych doctors. Sitting on the phone with First Call and being told they don’t have anyone available to come out and help. Sitting in the emergency room waiting for psychiatric care.
I wouldn’t wish these experiences on anyone. The only thing I do wish is that the people making these decisions would use a bit of empathy and start caring about children with mental illness.
Vermont can show it cares by building child psychiatric beds and putting the structures in place to hire and retain pediatric mental health care professionals. Our children deserve at least this much.