As the immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees for Unison Health, a major vendor of mental health services for the Lucas County Mental Health Board, a past board member of Rescue Crisis, and an associate of Scott Sylak, the executive director of the Lucas County Mental Health Board; Sena Mourad Friedman, the immediate past chairman of the board; and Jim Stengel, past chairman; I have had a front row seat in viewing our mental health system.
I am in a unique position to comment on their policy of canceling the contract with Rescue Crisis, the lawsuit levied by Rescue against the mental health board in response, the naming of our colleagues at the Zepf Center under the leadership of Deb Flores to replace Rescue Crisis in fulfilling crisis mental health services for Lucas County, the current state of mental health services in Lucas County, and on the proposed new mental health levy.
Critical mental health services for any community are vital and should be considered a right of a knowledgeable and empowered citizenry.