Mental health board in Cleveland slashing services

CLEVELAND (AP) — The head of mental health and substance abuse services in Ohio’s largest county says “people are going to die” because of new cutbacks at his agency.

But executive director William Denihan says the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County must balance its budget and has nowhere else to turn for funding.

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reports the board on July 1 will cut $13.9 million in services and lay off 14 employees, or one-fifth of its staff. Denihan tells the newspaper the agency is facing a 30 percent reduction in state money, while funding from a dedicated county tax has fallen 4.5 percent since 2006.