Recently, the U.S. Senate voted to make major cuts in services to the mentally ill. Fortunately, Maine’s senators opposed those cuts and should be applauded. But there are still more votes to be taken to be sure that Medicaid offers an adequate program of care.

I work for Tri-County Mental Health Services, seeing clients who are survivors of this devastating disease. They have become functioning human beings, thanks to the devoted care of their families and of our skilled, caring and ethical staff. Twenty years ago, many of these clients would have lived out their lives on locked wards.

Outpatient mental health services are much less expensive than the alternatives: long-term hospitalization, homelessness, even suicide. The agency operates on a tight budget. There is no gravy in Medicaid services to the mentally ill. Clients already receive less help than they should.

People will die because of these cuts, and children will grow up without a chance to receive help before their problems become intractable.

What are our priorities? Further tax cuts for the wealthy? Highway pork-barrel projects? Huge profits for the industries rebuilding after Katrina? An increasingly costly war?

I can’t believe that Maine citizens would support cuts in Medicaid if they know the true costs of diminished service to the mentally ill.

Congressman Mike Michaud has been a strong supporter of the underpriviledged. He needs our support in his efforts.

We need to speak out, before it is too late.

Donna Hilleboe DeMuth, Norway