He also reduced diocesan debt, but was forced to close several schools and hospitals.

Instead he would close hospitals but slash funding for local programs, leaving mental patients even worse off.

His campaign to close hospitals that were deemed unneeded diminished the total to 17, from 21.

In the 1960's, when strong antipsychotic drugs were developed, states began closing mental hospitals.

The other is deinstitutionalization, the states' continuing trend to close psychiatric hospitals.

In addition, he said, states can free money for community services by closing mental hospitals or reducing their size.

"I don't think they see those issues as being on their agenda," he said, predicting the group would primarily help to close unnecessary hospitals.

Some states have moved to close psychiatric hospitals and send patients to facilities owned by private companies.

While the state intends to eliminate 7,000 psychiatric beds in upstate communities over the next 10 years, it has no plans to close hospitals.

Some have even decided to close hospitals in smaller towns or to carry out a small number of surgical operations.