The Sun Journal published an excellent article (Feb. 9) regarding Gov. Baldacci’s proposals to dramatically reduce financial support for community mental-health services for people of all ages and needs.

For the hundreds of our family members, neighbors and friends who look to the community mental-health system for treatment and support, these proposals are so much more than dollar-driven, the proposals are personal, about life and recovery from major mental-health illnesses.

The entire community should be as alarmed as hospitals, schools, general assistance offices, correctional facilities, human service providers, families, victims of domestic and sexual violence, and homeless shelters. All look to and depend upon community mental-health agencies to provide timely and effective access to services.

As a human service provider, we have worked and will continue to work with both our local and state-level partners to build upon evidence-based practices, as well as our stewardship of public funds. What we are not willing to do is to sacrifice an already efficient and effective service network. Most importantly, we are not willing to allow people’s mental health to deteriorate to unconscionable conditions. Health policy should support wellness, not contribute to disease proliferation and debilitation.

I thank the Sun Journal for its coverage on this topic of great concern throughout our community. Though not as visible an issue as the helmet-law discussion presented on the front page, mental-health wellness is no less critical of a community need, and the sign of a caring community.

Craig Phillips, executive director, Common Ties, Lewiston