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Mental Health Advocates, Patients Decry Resignations

 HONOLULU (AP) - About two dozen mental health advocates and patients have expressed concern about the recent resignations of three state mental health leaders and made a strong plea that one of them be reinstated.

They and cheering supporters crowded into a large committee room at the state Capitol Tuesday for an informational briefing by the House Health Committee on problems and leadership departures at the state Department of Health's Adult Mental Health Division.

Dr. Thomas Hester, chief of the division, stepped down recently, shortly after the earlier departures of Hawaii State Hospital administrator Paul Guggenheim and Dr. Alan Radke, the hospital medical director.

All three men had roles in achieving federally mandated changes at the state hospital.

The hospital in Kaneohe was released from U.S. District Court oversight in December.

But the court still is overseeing work on a community mental health plan, which must be completed by next June.

Guggenheim and Radke are returning to the mainland for jobs in other facilities.

But several of the speakers said it may not be too late to bring Hester back, and made his return with full authority a priority for action.