Michigan representatives asking for public's thoughts on state of mental health

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. --- Representatives in Michigan reaching across the aisle to tackle mental health care in the state.

The Indiana House of Representative’s C.A.R.E.S. task force is made up of various representatives in Michigan. It is a bipartisan effort to help people in Michigan facing mental health challenges “to live happier, healthier, and more independent lives.”

The task force was announced yesterday. The representatives are doing a statewide tour visiting facilities who deal with mental health illnesses every day, but Representative Dave Pagel said they have a lot of ground to cover and will need help from the public.

Rep. Pagel said they are asking the public to give their comments on how mental health can improve here in the state.

The task force will take those comments and develop reforms that will affect mental health services, give better support to veterans, allow for additional attention to substance abuse, improve mental health courts, give police training and more.

Rep. Pagel’s office said the task force has no scheduled meetings in Berrien County or Southwest Michigan at this time. But if people wanting to help can head over to www.house.gov/cares to send in comments.