Blunt Confident Task Force will Address Abuse at Mental Health Facilities

Governor Matt Blunt says he’s confident state government can address the abuse at mental health facilities – abuse that has led to death in some instances. Blunt has formed a special task force to review reports of injury and death at both public and private facilities. Blunt says he will be open to whatever recommendation the task force makes, even if it is that he reverse himself and no longer propose closing the Bellefontaine facility in St. Louis, though Blunt says this problem goes well beyond Bellefontaine. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a series of stories, outlining patient abuse at both public and private mental health facilities.