Local People Caring for Local People
Many have heard about the mass stabbing at a Walmart in Traverse City on July 27th in which 11 people were injured. News reports shared the suspect’s history of involvement in the legal and mental health systems. Following such incidents, we often feel a need to understand how and why something like this could happen.
We don’t know what drove this person to do the unthinkable, however, we do know tragedies such as this are often used to condemn Michigan’s public community mental health (CMH) system, citing it as failing or broken. Having served in the CMH system for the past 32 years, these are the things we do know:
• Treatment works. Along with supports and services, the success of mental health treatment often depends on the individual’s willingness to take medications. Sometimes individuals choose to stop using prescribed medications because of how it makes them feel or other undesirable side effects. Outcomes for the overwhelming majority who stay with a medication protocol are very positive.
• Choice. Unless there is a court order mandating treatment for a mental illness, individuals can choose when, how, how much, where, by whom, or even if they will get treatment. This is a fundamental right for all people.
While we struggle to understand why people do bad things, blaming a system for respecting the rights of people is not the answer. In my opinion, the answer is found in acceptance. Acceptance that mental health issues affect us all. Acceptance that asking for help is not a weakness, but a strength. Acceptance breaks down barriers and encourages people to get the help they need.
We’ve celebrated the successes of local people (getting jobs, living independently for the first time in their adult life, being reunited with family among many others too numerous to mention) and we’ve felt the heartbreak of staff who were unable to get someone to accept or stay in services. We are local people, caring for local people. While never perfect, our community mental health (CMH) agencies have served the mental health needs of local people for more than 60 years – but now our Governor has other thoughts on this.
Announced on August 4, 2025, the State of Michigan has put management of the public mental health system out for competitive bid. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel want to pretend turning over management of your county-based mental health services to out-of-state health plans will somehow improve services. If you’ve ever tried to get a specialty service through a health plan or private insurance, you know the endless obstacles. Health plans don’t make money by providing services, they make money by denying and limiting services.
If you value county-based, locally managed mental health services in Michigan, now is the time to make your voice heard by calling Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office at 517-335-7858 (Constituent Services). Trust in local people to care for local people.
Tracey Dore
Resident of Huron County
Executive Director at Huron Behavioral Health