New Hampshire officials: need for mental health services increasing

In New Hampshire, Foster's Daily Democrat reports: "As unemployment statistics increase and the economic climate deteriorates, a large group of people who would otherwise likely not need mental health services are finding themselves at an increased risk for depression, anxiety, compulsive behaviors and substance abuse, according (to) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services."

Fosters reports: "The circumstances are exacerbated when considering that many of those people are unable to pay for basic mental health services, either through insurance or otherwise. At the same time, community-based programs, designed to be the "safety net" for the uninsured, are facing across-the-board funding cuts both public and private contributors."

Foster's examines Community Partners in Strafford County to show how the crisis is affecting care including strains put on basic mental health services, like non-emergency counseling, as funding falls short (Modica, 7/27).