HEALTH AND SAFETY
CHAPTER 31
REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
39-3123. Declaration of policy. It has been the policy of this state to provide treatment services for her citizens afflicted by mental illnesses. These illnesses cause both intense human suffering to children and adults and severe social and economic loss to the state. Regional mental health services, providing early and appropriate treatment, have proven to be valuable in the prevention of long-term, incapacitating mental illnesses and commitment of the patient to a state mental hospital. Acknowledging that it is the policy of the state to provide mental hospital services to all citizens in need of such care, it is the purpose of this act to delegate to the state mental health authority the responsibility and authority to establish and maintain regional comprehensive mental health services in order to extend appropriate mental health services to her citizens within all regions of the state.