Legislative candidates discuss mental-health issuesat forum - Bellingham (WS) Herald

BELLINGHAM - Northwest Washington state legislative candidates grappled with the complexities of state involuntary commitment law Thursday, Oct. 9, at a candidate forum sponsored by the Whatcom and Skagit chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Benita Bowen, president of the organization's Whatcom Chapter, noted the dangers that people with serious mental illnesses may pose to themselves and others if family members can't get them the treatment they need.

"We can only think about what has recently happened in Alger to know that is very true," Bowen said, referring to the arrest of a mentally disturbed man in connection with the slayings of six people. "We can do better, we must do better and we will do better."


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