I am appalled at the announcement of Baystate Medical Center to relocate the mental health unit out of Greenfield to Holyoke.
I worked in community mental health services for many years, and have seen the critical importance of having local, accessible, and familiar services. Gaining admission to a mental health unit is an arduous process, often taking hours during which the individual often sits in an emergency department. These individuals are already in a heightened state of emotional distress. In addition, it creates barriers to families and other service providers – a discharge meeting that takes one hour in Greenfield would expand to several hours if the individual is in Holyoke.
This is a terrible plan, and would make access to treatment for mental health and addictions significantly more difficult.
Sharon Smith
Greenfield