Gov. Nikki Haley: Newtown Shows Need For Mental Health Funding
Haley spoke at length for the first time about last Friday's school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
At a press conference where she was presenting her 2013-2014 budget, Gov. Nikki Haley spoke at length about the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., last Friday that claimed the lives of 26 people including 20 children.*
Haley said the shooting was, “Absolutely heartbreaking.”
“My hope and prayer is that those lives weren’t taken in vain and this country will have a conversation about mental health,” Haley said.
Haley’s response was a marked contrast to that of other governor’s, such as Virginia’s Bob McDonnell, who suggested that it might be time for teachers to be armed.
Haley said, ”If we do mental health treatment right, we can detect it in schools.
There are parents out there who are fearful for their children and have to make decisions for the children because they love them but they know they are a danger to society.”
The governor said mental health funding has long been a priority and the events in Connecticut hammered the point home.
“One in four people are affected by mental health issues. As a mother and a wife, I see it. And when you’re in an economic crisis you really start to see it. People feel desperate. This is a time where I hope people will say we’ve put mental health funding off long enough. We keep saying we’ll do it next year and then a Connecticut happens.”
When asked about possible gun control legislation Haley said, “We can’t be emotional. We have to step back and be smart. Connecticut has tough gun laws. Look at its mental health funding. No amount of gun control is going to prevent dangerous people from getting guns.”
According to this report from the National Association on Mental Illness, in 2009 South Carolina ranked 45th in per capita funding on mental illness at $60.24. Connecticut was 9th at $197.62. The national average was $122.90.
Haley called the previous administration’s funding levels for mental health “immoral” and has made it a priority to restore funding.
Haley did not comment on the proposed bill to arm teachers.
NOTE: This story originally listed the incorrect number of people killed in the Newtwon school shooting.
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silver
1:23 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
If it shows such a need - then why does she keep raping the Mental Health budget??
silver
1:26 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
We need ENFORCEABLE AND ENFORCED gun regulations. There is not a person - not police department or security force - but a person that would have a need for an assault rifle.
Carolyn Farr Smith
1:35 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
I have to agree with Nikki Haley on this one, "No amount of gun control is going to prevent dangerous people from getting guns.”
Shawn Drury
1:39 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Silver, Gov. Haley does not need me to argue on her behalf, but she has increased funding for mental health significantly. Does that mean it's where it needs to be? That's a separate question... -SD
Lowcountry Larry
3:11 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
So, is Nikki saying that there is no reason to even TRY to "prevent dangerous people from getting guns" ??
Richard Hayes
3:54 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Carolyn - Shawn is absolutely right -- Haley has NEVER supported increased funding for anything, much less Mental Health!! According to this report from the National Association on Mental Illness, in 2009 South Carolina ranked 45th in per capita funding on mental illness at $60.24. The national average was $122.90.
stanley seigler
4:01 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
re: So, is Nikki saying that there is no reason to even TRY to "prevent dangerous people from getting guns" ??
and many (eg, ms farr) agree w/ the gov...what the gov and NRA lemmings are doing (as you know) is diverting the issue from gun control to mental health.
re: "No amount of gun control is going to prevent dangerous people from getting guns.”
it is not either/or...both must be addressed...gun control is the first line of defense...also the cheapest and the easiest to implement...andand;
unless someone can explain why an ak47 is needed to kill a rabbit...should have been implemented decades ago.
Ken
1:38 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
My, how fast these republicants can backpedal! Her across the board budget cuts included mental health.
silver
2:52 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
The report, called "State Mental Health Cuts: A National Crisis," shows that South Carolina ranks third in the nation for the level of budget cuts made to mental health services between 2009 and 2011. South Carolina's state mental health budget was cut 23 percent, behind only Kentucky with a 47 percent cut and Alaska with a 35 percent cut.
Lowcountry Larry
3:48 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Actually, this report shows the South Carolina state mental health budget was cut by 39.3% from 2009 to 2012. Yet somehow, Nikki can say with a straight face that 'mental health funding has long been a priority'. Really?
Meanwhile, the P&C is reporting that Haley is proposing a cut in income taxes, reducing revenue needed to meet the 'priority to restore funding' for mental health care, among other things.
silver
2:53 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Ask Nikki Haley why these mental health cuts were made when she was governor - I realize that she has not been governor since 2009.
Mimi
3:34 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Now all of a sudden Nimrata cares about the health of the people???? Unfortunatly for her she has her record of fighting against every single opportunity to better the health care of the people of South Carolina. This is just more lip service from an opportunist attempting to act like she cares about anyone other than herself and her own political agenda. PERIOD.
stanley seigler
3:46 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
FYI
[CLIP]
study showed that by the 2011-12 [haley took office jan 2011] fiscal year, South Carolina’s budget for mental health care was nearly 40 percent smaller than it had been just three years earlier
http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/jan/25/gov-haley-calls-more-money-states-mentally-ill/
'miles to go'...haley's mental health care 'sofa change' proposal is window dressing...sadly she is not alone...mental health funding is hind tit priority in most (all) states, eg;
newtown's murder was, supposedly, on the autism spectrum...how was/are autism programs/support/special ed for children with autism funded in SC (other state as well)
BTW i strongly disagree those with autism are more inclined to mass murders than society as a whole...maybe less so.
that said;
mental health should be a priority. sad it only becomes an issue when gun culture cowboys/girls (NRA lemmings) use it to divert attention from sensible gun control, eg:
education, testing and licensing required for purchase of all but shot guns and hunting rifles...perhaps a ban a assault type weapons and magazine with capacity of over 10 shots...mental health is a straw man.
Robert Kelly
7:57 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Newtown did not show the need for this in the schools. If the news I had read was correct, the shooter did not go to school and was home schooled.
I am in favor of mental health programs, but it is not a thoughtful response to point out how this event demonstrates a need that would not have even been addressed if the funding were there.
Weapons which shoot lots of bullets really quickly with large magazine cartridges will kill more people in less time; that is why they are manufactured and sold. These guns were owned by a person who would not have been flagged as mentally unstable, nor criminal. She let her unstable son use them, and he did the rest. Criminal background checks will not solve the problem, the existence of these weapons and the potentially uncontrolled use of them is the problem. Guns do in fact kill people.