Mission Zero, a plan designed by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), aims to end emergency room waits for psychiatric patients. A new mental health hospital in Londonderry would have been the key part to this project; but it is no longer moving forward.
Gov. Chris Sununu told lawmakers on Friday, Oct. 11, that the Londonderry Town Council voted to reject the memorandum that would have allowed this project to move forward. A memorandum, or briefing note, is a contract typically used in professional settings that records contract terms or other legal details.
Sununu was surprised by the decision, stating, “I don’t mind saying I think it was a completely foolish decision by the town of Londonderry.”
SolutionHealth, a private hospital network, planned to build the 144-bed facility with $15 million from the state in federal pandemic aid funds. Now, state officials have to administer that money elsewhere by the end of the year or else it expires.
With lawmakers’ approval, Sununu aims to redirect some of the money into other mental-health-related projects. This includes renovations at Hampstead Hospital’s treatment facility for youth, as well as an eight-bed transitional housing program.
Kelly Scargill, a SolutionHealth spokesperson, stated, “Though an agreement on all the necessary terms with the Town of Londonderry was unable to be reached, we remain dedicated to expanding access to much-needed behavioral healthcare services in New Hampshire.”
Acadia Healthcare, the partner on the Londonderry project, is exploring other options for mental health hospitals in N.H.
Mental health is a serious issue in society and providing resources like psychiatric hospitals can serve as a useful resource for those struggling. Furthermore, a person having a psychiatric breakdown would not have to wait to be assessed and could immediately receive help.
However, it is relieving that this plan fell through, as Acadia Healthcare is under numerous federal investigations and would cause more danger than rescue for mental health asylum seekers.
Acadia Healthcare provides behavioral health services and is one of the largest chains in America, operating 225 facilities nationwide.
A New York Times investigation found Acadia Healthcare was keeping people against their will to maximize insurance payouts. The authorities have been alerted in 12 of the 19 states where Acadia facilities exist by patients, employees and police officers, who stated the hospitals were holding people in ways that were against the law. Lexie Reid, a psychiatric nurse who worked for Acadia from 2021 to 2022, stated, “We were keeping people who didn’t need to be there.”
Mental hospital stays can be expensive, with some patients charged up to $2,200 per day. Employees noted strategies that were put in place to convince insurance companies to cover longer stays. Some of these tactics included claiming a patient was not ready to leave because they did not finish a meal, as well as changing medication dosages and claiming patients needed more time to adjust to it. Acadia keeps patients until their insurance runs out, unless a lawyer is hired by patients or their families.
Kathryn MacKenzie, a school social worker, was sent to an Acadia facility in North Tampa in August 2020 after visiting an emergency room to have her bipolar prescriptions evaluated. She begged to leave as soon as she arrived, though the hospital insisted she stay, even while she was not posing harm to herself or others. She stated, “Every time I hear the locked door open and slam I feel a quick feeling of fear.”
The hospital went to court seeking to extend her stay, charging her insurance $2,200 a day while she waited for a hearing. $13,200 later, she was released, just before the hearing.
Additionally, health inspectors have found that some patients were denied necessary medication, were left unattended or simply did not receive therapy. Many inspection reports noted filthy conditions, as well as evidence of assault and rape.
Other patients have expressed concern about asking for help again, in fear they may end up back in Acadia.
The goal of Mission Zero is to limit emergency room wait times for psychiatric patients; but would this shortened time result in something far worse? There are no Acadia facilities in N.H., and it is worrying to think of the outcomes by incorporating one into the state. N.H. needs to find a new partner before building a mental hospital to ensure the physical and emotional safety of patients.
Jaden Johnson
can be contacted at jaden@kscequinox.com
