The state has decided to close its Kailua Counseling Center in July, which will force about 100 severely mentally ill clients to go to Kane'ohe for services.

The closure of the center, aimed at helping avert a budget shortfall at the state Adult Mental Health Division in the coming fiscal year, will save about $50,000 a year in lease rent. Employees who work at the center will be transferred to other facilities.

Mental health advocates say the closure of the center will mean a big inconvenience to some mentally ill clients. "These people are severely disabled," said Marya Grambs, executive director of Mental Health America of Hawai'i. "That's why we have this network of community mental health centers. We're just whittling it away."

The closure comes as the state is making other cuts to mental health programs.

Community mental health centers provide outpatient psychiatric services to severely and persistently mentally ill clients. The Kailua center is a satellite clinic to the Kane'ohe community mental health center. There are nine such centers state- wide, two of which have satellites. Five of the mental health centers are on O'ahu.

Michelle Hill, AMHD acting chief, said the Kailua clinic is the only one planned for closure. She also said there are no plans to downsize other centers.

The Kailua clinic will close July 31; Hill said a transition plan for clients is being developed.

"This plan ... includes an assessment of consumer needs regarding accessing services at the main clinic in Kane'ohe," Hill said, in an e-mail to The Advertiser. "Case managers will continue to provide a significant amount of outreach, providing case management services at clients' homes in addition to the office visits."