A funny thing happen on the way to closing Dorothea Dix Hospital: the closure plan itself. On September 25, the Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health was finally given an opportunity to ask questions of the proposed plan. They concluded the document was ill-prepared to continue the process of terminating the facility. Since the report did not measure up to the statutes required by law to shut Dix down, the lawmakers rejected it. By the end of the meeting, the committee was actually contemplating keeping Dix's doors open, at least until the continuum community care promised by this administration is funded properly and working effectively.
Former Vice President Dan Quayle once remarked, " We're all capable of making mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made." As humorous as that sounds, none of us really likes admitting being wrong. Politicians, especially, see it as a sign of weakness that can only lead to one thing; political suicide. I am encouraged that the oversight committee is trying to breathe some cautious optimism into a system that has been abused, misused and mismanaged by former DHHS Secretary Carmen Hooker-Odom since 2001.
Mental health issues are finally getting some positive exposure and welcomed understanding from our legislative body. New DHHS Secretary Dempsey Benton has his work cut out for him. Will he work with the oversight committee to build back the infrastructure of our mental health community or will he blindly follow Mike Easley's agenda full speed ahead? Which is more important: keeping Dix open with its intended use in mind or housing more state employees on the site with the looming prospects of selling the land to the highest bidder?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best: "Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing." Let us remind our government officials that striving towards a mental health system that is more patient-driven, not politically-driven, better serves North Carolina. Are you listening, Mr. Easley?
Steve Church
Willow Spring, NC
