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Guest Opinion: Why you should vote no Psychiatric urgent care center, inpatient facility also up for vote Guest response to 'Why you should vote no' Psychiatric care center could cut trips to jail

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We all want a healthy, prosperous community, and the county's population growth has brought with it an undeniable need for additional psychiatric care facilities. Voting in support of the bonds on Questions 3 and 4 will provide our community with a much-needed psychiatric urgent-care center and psychiatric inpatient hospital.

Mental illness can affect people at all stages of life and from all backgrounds.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in four adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. And, in the United States today, one in 10 children is experiencing a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment.

Chances are that a family member, a friend or someone else you know is experiencing difficulties right now.

Considering that Pima County's population is quickly approaching 1 million residents, the number who will seek services for a mental illness in a given year is staggering. Moreover, it is generally agreed that as many as 50 percent of individuals with a mental illness also have a substance-use problem.

With the passage of the bonds, a psychiatric urgent care center, focused on crisis-oriented services for adults and children, will provide an appropriate facility for individuals and their families to turn to when coping with a crisis situation.

When more intensive care is needed, the nearby psychiatric hospital facilities will provide additional treatment options.

The proposed psychiatric care facilities will be located on the Kino campus and will benefit the entire community.

The facilities will help adults and children in the midst of mental health or substance-use crises obtain appropriate care, rather than being seen in a medical emergency room, detention or jail where the underlying psychiatric issues may never get addressed.

Additionally, the facilities will provide some measure of relief from overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms.

Law enforcement and other first responders would have a point of service for the individuals they assist daily.

This will help law enforcement personnel return quickly to our city's streets, to focus their attention on preventing and responding to crime.

Approval of Questions 3 and 4 will result in a far-reaching and lasting improvement in our community's ability to help people in mental health and substance-use crises.

We urge you to vote yes on both questions Tuesday.