Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident tells Rio Rancho council local psychiatric care is failing and raises public-safety concerns
Summary
A resident used the public comment period to criticize delivery of psychological services in Rio Rancho, named Central Desert Behavioral and Presbyterian, described being hospitalized and accused providers of producing violent, drug-addicted people released to city streets. The council took no action; the remarks were recorded as public comment.
During the public forum a resident identified himself as Alan Sullivan and described ongoing frustrations with the delivery of psychological services in Rio Rancho.
Sullivan said he had "increasing frustrations with the delivery of psychological services within, Rio Rancho" and criticized what he described as a lack of mechanisms to regulate provider behavior. He said he had been sent to Central Desert Behavioral and called it "the most god awful place in the world." He also referenced Presbyterian and said, "These mental hospitals are destroying people. They're making them drug addicted, violent, and they're sending them out to the streets of Rio Rancho, and you people are gonna deal with them." He added that questioning providers could lead to arrest and described that as "the criminalization of dissent."
These remarks were made during public comment; no action or direction to staff was recorded on this item. The council proceeded to the consent calendar and later business after the speaker finished.
