‘Absolute scandal’: Md. fails to promptly hospitalize mentally ill defendants – msn/WaPost

Mental health “systems” and hospitals vary dramatically across US states. Virginia, which borders Maryland to the south, created a Behavioral Health Commission through which legislators can monitor and work to improve mental health services. Mental health issues involve not only state mental hospitals, but also country agencies, health care providers, courts, jails, police, homeless shelters, housing, families, government health care financing programs, human rights, and many other policy areas. This recording of a recent Virginia commission meeting describes the scope of its mission. Keeping the public, families of patients, and policymakers informed on various parts of the mental health matrix is important to maintaining services and improving their quality.

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