News from Helena Public Comment from Tonya Horn, Flathead Warming CenterAimee Brunckhorst
From: Flathead Warming Center FWC <flatheadwarmingcenter@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 10:32 AM
To: Kalispell City Council
Subject: EXTERNAL Fwd: News from Helena
I have been advocating as loud as I can. Bob Keenan has come to the Warming Center to listen. He is the Chair of
D P H H S oversight committee.
Please listen to this short news clip out of Helena.
https://www.mtpr.org/podcast/montana-news
PLEASE be a part of what we CAN do on a local level. PLEASE believe me. It is very scary that we have 10 - 15 people that
I am aware of that need inpatient psychiatric care and no one has been able to get them an involuntary commitment. I
see this as the most glaring safety issue for these individuals and the entire community. We can do something about it
now on a local level! I believe I have a fairly good understanding of who has to be at the table. I need your position to
call the "players" together. Please.
Also, Rod Kuntz has been in touch from the Health Board, but I do not hear anything back nor do I hear from the City
County Health Department.) am not in touch with anyone from the City County Health department. Who do I reach out
to regarding mental health crisis stabilization efforts.
I can't stop talking about the danger we are in as a community because we are passing a handful of individuals around
and not getting them the help that they need. An Involuntary commitment is a serious thing as it takes a person's rights
away temporarily. However, in many ways, it is inhumane not to involuntarily commit a person for psychiatric
commitment. It is costly. However, when we don't do it, it is costing the city! A lot!
This is the start of something that can happen on a local level! Please help.
Tanya Horn
Executive Director
Flathead Warming Center
(406) 250-8652