MENTAL HEALTH CARE CUTS TO BE DISCUSSED.

Byline: Troy Anderson  Staff Writer

Facing one of the largest budget cuts in the Department of Mental Health's history, Los Angeles County officials are holding a series of public meetings to draft plans on what services to cut to uninsured mentally ill people.

In the county budget unveiled earlier this week, the Mental Health Department is expected to take one of the most significant hits, losing $48 million of its nearly $1 billion budget.

``These cuts are without question in the wrong area, in the wrong place, and will have a devastating impact upon our community,'' said Tanya Tull, president of Beyond Shelter Inc., which has offices in Los Angeles and Pacoima.

The department provides psychiatric and counseling services to 200,000 adults and children each year at an average cost of $2,722 to $5,499 per patient.

The network of county-operated and contracted mental health clinics, hospitals and other facilities might have to turn away about half of the uninsured people suffering from depression, anxiety and other disorders, department Director Marvin Southard said.

``None of us are under the illusion that we can cut almost $50 million from our budget without increasing the suffering of some of our community's most vulnerable citizens,'' Southard said.

The next public hearing to draft plans on what services to cut will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at the Mental Health Department administration building, 3160 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, in the third-floor conference room.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com