AZ SCR1018

Legislature supports community-based efforts to implement a clinically appropriate and cost-effective system of care for individuals living with chronic serious mental illness.

Legislature supports enhancement of public and private psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities to provide higher-level care for individuals with chronic serious mental illness.

Arizona has approximately 4,000 residents with severe, chronic serious mental illness who need higher-level treatment during certain periods, but only 116 inpatient beds are available at the Arizona State Hospital's civil unit for the state's 7.17 million residents.

Legislature supports efforts to enhance the Arizona State Hospital, private psychiatric hospitals, and residential treatment facilities to provide care for individuals with chronic serious mental illness who clinically qualify but cannot obtain services at the Arizona State Hospital.

Concurrent resolution recognizes that individuals with untreated chronic serious mental illness experience increased homelessness, shorter life expectancy, and cycles through hospitals, jails, and prisons at significant cost to the state and counties.