To the editor:

As a family who has loved ones with mental illness, we are greatly affected by the mental health services that are offered here in Lawrence and Douglas County.

We love this city and all that it has to offer. After moving here three years ago, we call this our home. But, we have experienced issues with receiving mental health care, especially in a crisis situation. So many other people are just like us, needing help for our family members who have mental illness.

Please support our county commissioners, our new county director of behavorial projects Bob Tryanski, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and Lawrence Memorial Hospital in working together to bring better services to our community.

Justice Matters is excited to see change, movement and a stir in our community about how we think and react toward people with mental illness. The 2018 proposed budget included $1.98 million in behavioral health initiatives. No one likes to see a tax increase, so the county administrator’s proposed budget request will undoubtedly irritate some. But like the old Fram oil filter commercial used to say, “Pay me a little now, or pay me a lot later.”