Better funding for mental health crisis services across the state will help alleviate pressures in several other areas of Montana's network of mental health services, a consultant said Tuesday.

At a meeting of an interim legislative committee on health and human services, Richard Dougherty of Boston-based DMA Health Strategies said that beefing up the ability to respond to mental health crises around Montana will help the state meet several other goals regarding mental health, including a lower census at the state mental hospital in Warm Springs, improvements in the corrections system and less pressure on law enforcement agencies to try to fill the role of mental health professionals.

"This is going to cost money to expand, and you'll probably have to consider the allocation of state-only dollars," Dougherty told the panel of four senators and four representatives. "But absent that front line (care), you won't have the ability to address individuals in crisis short of hospitalization."

Several speakers agreed that improved crisis services are necessary across the state.

Lobbyist Kathy McGowan's clients include the state's community mental health centers, sheriffs and peace officers and county attorneys, "and they have all identified crisis services as their No. 1 priority, so we're happy to see a lot of stress put on that," she said.

She added that several of her clients have made crisis treatment their top priority for the past two legislative sessions.

"They can't keep these folks in the back of the squad car indefinitely," she said. "They need a place to take them."

Dougherty recommended that cities explore partnerships to create centers like the Billings Crisis Clinic, but committee member Rep. Ernie Dutton, R-Billings, said that while the clinic is a benefit to both local hospitals and Warm Springs by easing those entities' crisis patient loads, it's difficult to find funding for the crisis clinic.

"It's relaxing their budgets, but there hasn't been a way to pull in support from those entities," he said.

Dougherty suggested the state put up initial money for mental health crisis management, but require matching funds in order to secure local support.

The 2007 Legislature authorized $200,000 for a comprehensive study of the financing and structure of Montana's mental health system. DMA looked for gaps in services offered, whether there is available money the state might take advantage of and whether there are opportunities for better coordination among state agencies.

"In general we were struck by the degree of creativity and the proactive nature of many of your initiatives," Dougherty said.

Nonetheless, the study found several areas for improvement in Montana's mental health system. In addition to a need for improved crisis services, the study found:

n Eligibility for mental health coverage is well-defined, but significant gaps exist.

n An over-arching structure would help the state's agencies coordinate policy and services.

n Inequities in access exist across several lines, including between children and adults and in different regions of the state. For example, there are just 17 board certified child psychiatrists in Montana, concentrated in five communities.

n Additional attention needs to be paid to mental health issues among Native Americans; both adults and juveniles in the corrections system; and veterans.

Reporter John Harrington: 447-4080 or john.harrington@helenair.com.