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Public commenter warns Battle Ground of Columbia River Mental Health service pause and local clinic closure
Summary
A resident told the council that Columbia River Mental Health paused services and is reportedly $6 million behind on bills, leaving the Battle Ground clinic closed and clients scrambling for psychiatric medication management and therapy.
At the start of public comments on April 7, Jessica Cole told the council she urged officials to rescind a resolution opposing light rail on the I‑5 bridge and to instead protect regional partnerships. Cole then raised an urgent local health‑care concern: she said Columbia River Mental Health (CRMH) had paused services and that the organization informed clients it was approximately $6,000,000 behind on bills.
Cole said some services remain but that the Battle Ground location is closed and that many clients are now trying to find new therapists and medication management providers. She stressed the risk of dangerous gaps in psychiatric care, saying missed monthly prescriptions can “be life altering” and can increase the risk of relapses, overdoses and mental‑health emergencies that would affect schools, first responders and the broader community.
Cole asked the council to “raise alarm, ask questions, and do what you can to support residents through this crisis,” noting that while the city cannot directly fix a provider’s finances, local officials can press for solutions and help residents navigate care options.
The comments were public testimony and not a staff report; the council did not take immediate action on the record during the meeting.
