Facing chronic shortages, Minnesota's mental health system gets a boost

In an effort to ease chronic overcrowding of hospital psychiatric wards, the state will add 150 pediatric mental health beds in the next three years as part of an unprecedented expansion of services for children with mental illnesses.

The Legislature last week approved funding for a network of small treatment centers, to be built across the state, anchoring a broad package of preventive services so children don’t wind up in emergency rooms and inpatient psychiatric wards, where many are discharged prematurely for lack of beds.

http://www.startribune.com/facing-chronic-shortages-minnesota-s-mental-health-system-gets-a-boost/305409651/