Advocates urge talks on Vergennes mental health center

By Shay Totten | Vermont Guardian

Posted December 6, 2005

MONTPELIER — Mental health advocates and consumers urged state and local leaders Tuesday to begin an open dialogue about a sub-acute mental health treatment center proposed for Vergennes.

Meanwhile, city officials in Burlington — where the state wants to build a new standalone acute psychiatric hospital to replace the Vermont State Hospital— say they have yet to be briefed about such plans, and were “surprised” by a recent vote supporting the concept.

Representatives of three organizations representing consumers, their families, and mental health providers held a press conference in Montpelier Tuesday in response to a heated exchange between Vergennes officials and state leaders last week.

Click here for the full text of this story in our subscriber's area.