Hillary: ‘I Was Surprised’ How Many in Iowa, N.H. Asked About Mental Health

"Please, let us put mental health back at the top of our national agenda. (Applause) You and I know that the promise of de-institutionalizing those in mental health facilities were supposed to be followed by the creation of community based treatment centers. But we got half of that equation but not the other half. Our prisons and our jails are now our mental health institutions.

I have to tell you, I was somewhat surprised in both Iowa and New Hampshire to be asked so many questions about mental health. What are we going to do with the people who need help for substance abuse or mental illness? What are we going to do when the remaining facilities are being shut down for budget reasons? What are we going to do when hospitals don't really get reimbursed for providing the kind of emergency care that is needed for mental health patients?

It is not just a problem in our cities. There is a quiet epidemic of substance abuse sweeping small towns and rural America as well."