Moving Mental Health office to Diamond Springs Bad Idea

Tuesday, March 12, at 8 a.m. the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors will give authorization to consider moving the Placerville West Slope Mental Health Department currently located at 670 Placerville Drive to the Logan Building at 768 Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. The Placerville location has served the community well, being centrally located in Placerville, close to El Dorado Transit bus access, close to medical offices, county offices and other services.

The current location is very close to emergency responders such as the Placerville Police Department, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, Placerville Fire Department, the county Mental Health Department’s PUFF unit located on Spring Street and Marshall Hospital. The close proximity to these services enhances both patient and public health and safety.

If the Board of Supervisors moves this facility to Diamond Springs, the inability for many Mental Health patients to access this remote location will lead to a high dropout rate of Mental Health patients, which puts both the patients and community at risk.

Relocating the facility to Diamond Springs could put the lives of mental health patients at risk, as those that ride the El Dorado Transit Bus would be forced sit and wait for long times in the sizzling summer heat on Missouri Flat Road for a bus transfer which creates a dangerous and sometimes deadly heat interaction with prescription medication. The Mental Health Department had two people die of drug and heat interaction last year. For many others the remote location will just be plain inaccessible leading to a high drop out rate and recidivism.

It is recommended that you show up and voice your concern 8 a.m. Tuesday at the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors at 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, or contact your elected Supervisor.

STEVE WILSON

Placerville