The Washington Post (8/8, Hicks) reports, “Mental-health advocates on Monday demanded that Maryland hire more state hospital staff and reopen facilities that once housed patients, arguing that the moves could relieve pressure on jails as a backlog of people await court-ordered psychological evaluations.” Officials with AFSCME Maryland Council 3, “the largest union representing Maryland public employees, released figures from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene showing that the agency has more than 500 staff vacancies.” They “said the department should fill many of those openings with mental-health workers to help trim the backlog.”
Related Links:
— “Mental-health advocates say Maryland desperately needs more hospital staff,” Josh Hicks, Washington Post, August 8, 2016.