WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine used the example of a Maine family at a hearing on mental health services before the Senate Committee on Health, Labor, Education and Pensions.
She says the Bruce family of Caratunk saw the tragedy of a mentally ill son that killed his mother while in a psychotic state, and that providers did not listen to concerns of the family members about his care.
"It's often far too difficult for parents to get help for their adult children who are suffering from serious mental illness," Collins says.
She says she understands that the vast majority of those needing mental health care are not violent, but those that are violent pose a serious problem for the nation's mental health system. She says Congress needs to do more to address that problem.
"I understand that only a tiny number of Americans with serious mental illness engage in unspeakable acts of violence either against themselves or others," Collins says.
