Pioneer Press Editorial: Poised for progress on mental health

Pioneer Press

Those of us who like to sit back and throw mud pies at the occupants of the state Capitol need to deliver a bouquet of the sweetest-smelling spring daffodils for their work on behalf of those with severe mental illness.

The burden of severe mental illness is made much worse when our social networks do not offer the right kind of help at the right time. A family or patient looking for help needs everything our health care system can deliver. They need to know there is hope, and that the people of Minnesota are not going to leave them suffering alone.

So we praise the advocates, family members, legislators, health and human services officials and Gov. Tim Pawlenty for stepping up to help during this legislative session. Bills awaiting final action contain a substantial investment in services, in the work of the providers themselves and in the idea of a unified set of benefits that government insurance programs will cover.

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