Suggesting that patients be transferred to Wauwatosa is not realistic. Many individuals in crisis cannot travel an hour away, and families cannot always provide that level of support.
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Fox – Seattle
I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding Aurora Health Care’s decision to close its inpatient behavioral health services in Sheboygan effective September 19 (“Aurora closing Sheboygan’s inpatient mental health unit,” Aug. 29).
This decision will have a devastating impact on our community and far-reaching consequences. The stated justification that there has been a 67% decline in admissions does not align with what community members and even Aurora staff have shared. The reality may be due to be a decline caused by staffing shortages, not a lack of need. Closing this critical service under the guise of underutilization is likely misrepresenting the true situation.
Mental health crises do not wait for convenient solutions. Suggesting that patients be transferred to Wauwatosa is not realistic. Many individuals in crisis cannot travel an hour away, and families cannot always provide that level of support. This might result in overcrowding at the Wauwatosa facility and leave Sheboygan County residents without timely access to lifesaving care.
This is not an abstract issue. I have personally been affected by mental health struggles, and I lost a family member to suicide after they were told there was no room available at the hospital. To think that others will face the same fate because of this closure is deeply alarming.
This decision puts lives at risk and further stigmatizes mental health by treating it as secondary to other medical needs. It is not acceptable for our community to lose such a vital resource.
Ali Dellger, Sheboygan Falls
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