Janet Mills Says Plan Puts To Rest Three-Decade Mental Health Consent Decree

State officials and advocacy groups have agreed on a plan that could end a court decree that has governed mental health services for more than three decades.

The summer of 1988 was hot and humid. Temperatures stayed in the 90s for days at a time. The Augusta Mental Health Institute, which housed hundreds of patients, had no air conditioners. Five patients died from heat exhaustion, sparking a public outcry.

The Legislature held hearings that were televised, newspaper editorials blasted state officials and advocates for patients at AMHI went to court. In 1990, the state agreed to a consent decree promising to provide needed mental health services, which is still in effect.

Gov. Janet Mills says the new plan she has agreed to will allow the state to make good on those promises within two years.

Read more: https://www.mainepublic.org/post/janet-mills-says-plan-puts-rest-three-decade-mental-health-consent-decree