Lack of mental health resources for homeless in Las Cruces

There’s a growing need for mental health resources across the country. Access to help is that much more difficult for the homeless.

“It makes my anxiety go at a very high rate, to where I won’t want to come out and won’t want to deal with people. I’ll want to take off and you won’t see me for awhile I’ll just take off and go hide with friends,” says “Jennifer.”

A woman named “Jennifer” wanted to remain anonymous.

She tells Abc-7 she’s been homeless in Las Cruces for 14 years. She suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder, depression and sometimes has suicidal thoughts.

“I get real manic and do manic things,” Jennifer said.

Community of Hope officials estimate half the people who live at Tent City suffer from severe mental illnesses. When they seek help, options are limited.

Usually, the “Mobile Crisis Unit” with La Frontera Behavioral Health Center, is called. They evaluate patients and refer them to psychiatrists.

“The wait’s very long, the mobile crisis will come right out and assess them. The problem is, they can’t get on medication until they see a psychiatrist. That’s like a month to two months down the road,” Sue Campbell, a mental health advocate with the Community of Hope, said.

The wait to be seen can be dangerous.

“If they go into a psychotic break, it’s usually homicidal or suicidal, or they act out and then somebody doesn’t like their actions, so it causes conflict and things can happen. I see it many times here,” Campbell said.
Aside from lack of funds, Campbell say there’s simply a lack of in-patient facilities in town. The mobile unit does its best to help fill those gaps, but it’s not a permanent solution.

“There’s just not enough services,” Campbell said.

There may be help on the horizon. Officials say they plan to bring an on-campus psychiatrist in the future to help the mentally ill. For now, they just have to hang tight.