Gov. Chris Sununu takes a selfie with an unidentified worker. Courtesy photo

CONCORD – Gov. Sununu on Thursday issued a new executive order directing state officials to “take immediate, targeted and direct action to ensure there is a system in place to help individuals in mental health crisis receive timely and appropriate medical care.”

Effective immediately, Sununu wrote, the state Department of Health and Human Services is authorized, and directed, to create emergency administrative rules to immediately increase access to mental health services.

The order further states the DHHS is “hereby authorized and directed” to take action on the following points:

* To implement, through their licensing rules, emergency administrative rules to clarify the roles New Hampshire hospitals have in caring for those patients who present at a hospital with mental health concerns;

* To review all mental health services in New Hampshire to determine if current providers are equipped to meet the needs of New Hampshire citizens and where necessary, identify new and alternative providers;

* To expand the number of Designated Receiving Facility (DRF) beds on an expedited basis;

* To work with all providers and stakeholders to identify additional immediate actions to address the mental health crisis;

* To take lawful steps to ensure increased access and availability of community-based mental health services.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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