Mental-health professionals in Illinois are seeing an increase in cases of substance abuse, depression and suicide linked to worsening economic conditions, the Daily Herald reported Nov. 20.

Patients seeking psychiatric help are experiencing difficulties finding beds in suburban community hospitals with limited space in psychiatric units, and the surge in service demand is forcing more referrals to alternative facilities.

Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in suburban Illinois has seen an increase in admissions of almost 30 percent, and was unable to accommodate 1,100 patients needing inpatient treatment this year. Brett Hall, director of intake at Alexian, said no patient is turned away without being assessed and offered a referral to another facility.

A $2-million budget deficit in Illinois has resulted in cuts to funding for mental-health services in a state that had already seen budget reductions. Some hospitals have been forced to eliminate substance-abuse programs and reduce staffing.

"It's a dangerous collision course," said Janet Stover, executive director of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Services. "There's not enough money and more people needing the service."

Mental Health America of Illinois said that almost 8 percent of the population suffered a severe mental illness last year. Economic concerns are forcing patients already receiving mental-health services to cut back on treatment or medication to save money.

There is no immediate solution to the crisis, officials say. "We're getting a lot more demand, and capacity going down," said Kelly Clancy, Alexian's vice president of external affairs. "We need the public and legislators to understand this is getting to a critical mass."