PENSACOLA, Fla. — Escambia County commissioners are set to vote this week on supporting a request that would bring more mental health services to the Northwest Florida area.
If approved, the county would sign off on Lakeview Center’s grant request to fund three new mental health positions.
Lakeview Center has applied for a state grant to address what officials say is a growing problem in Escambia County. The grant cites a report done by Justice United seeking transformation in Pensacola.
It says Escambia County has the highest overdose mortality rate in the state. It also states the county has the highest hospitalizations for mental health disorders and domestic violence.
The goal of this program is to change that.
“I think that it’s a good program,” said commissioner Mike Kohler. “It doesn’t cost the county anything. It’s a grant. It’s a pass through us to support them.”
“I mean, there’s clearly a case across the state where we have more and more mental health cases that need more support,” Kohler said.
President of Lakeview Center, Shawn Salamida, says, if approved, this program would beef up resources, allow them to hire three new positions — a case manager, peer specialist, and a program coordinator to support the existing mental health court for Escambia County.
“With those additional services, we will be able to support those people with mental illness,” Salamida said. “Whether it’s mental health challenges, whether it’s addiction recovery, we will be able to better support them so that they can be diverted from the criminal justice system, which is a benefit to that system as well.”
“If they participate in the mental health services that are outlined in mental health court, they can be diverted from a formal actual legal process,” said Salamida.
The goal is to keep those in the mental court out of jail.
“Those incarceration tend to repeat themselves, so if you have an individual with an untreated mental illness, it’s going to be hard for them to manage their symptoms,” Salamida said. “And they tend to cross paths with law enforcement, and end up in jail, and if we can treat them properly jail is not the place for them.”
On July 1, Lakeview Center will know if the state funding has been approved. The center believes they’re in a good position to receive the funding.