A little over a year ago, Governor Brian Sandoval created a council to improve Nevada's mental health system - and by some accounts spending has finally started to increase. But service providers say the struggle to get support is still an uphill battle.
It's complicated, say experts. A great deal of mental health patients end up in jail instead of treatment. They say, when mental health symptoms are not addressed, people who go untreated often end up breaking the law.
"Symptoms such as auditory hallucinations or delusions, increased paranoia and oftentimes they'll act on those symptoms out in the community - which causes disturbances and then the police get involved,” says Alta Vista Mental Health Program Director Christie White.
Ryan Doud was one of the lucky ones. After being arrested, he was assigned to mental health court and is now living at Crossroads Residential Treatment Center.
The Washoe County Department of Social Services spends about $1,000 per client per month - in taxpayer money - to run Crossroads. But representatives say the program has saved the community millions of dollars in law enforcement and medical fees.
At Alta Vista Mental Health in Reno, they see needy patients get denied Medicaid services almost daily.
"The insurance companies need to give us a little more latitude to do our job and not confine us to six to 12 months to fix them and get them back where they were when it's been a life-long problem,” says Lisa Rogers.
The waiting list for services continues to grow as advocates work with the legislature to find support and funding for mental health programs in the Silver State.
Currently there are ten mental health-related bills pending approval in the Nevada Legislature.
