Western State: Decades of neglect wreak havoc

Western State Hospital’s loss of federal funding is the result of decades of being underfunded. The pay scale for professionals has long been below rates in the private sector, especially for clinical staff.

Even with wage raises, mental health professionals are paid less at Western than at other employers. No wonder turnover is so high, from the top administrator on.

It has been at least 30 years since building upkeep was reasonably funded. Talk to people who work there. You’ll hear about locked doors which don’t fully lock, old pipes sticking out of walls and other basic maintenance needs.

This neglect coincides with a colossal and disturbing rise in suicide rates in our state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the Puget Sound area, outside Seattle, suicides rose by 28 percent during 2014-2016, compared to 1999-2001.

It’s time for the Pierce County Council to revisit raising the sales tax by one tenth of a penny, and to take responsibility for providing more community mental health facilities.