In many parts of the state, it’s always been a bit of a running joke that the folks in our corner of the world are, well, a little different than most.

So the news that our county has the second highest number of mental health commitments in the state sadly will certainly bring a few smirks from around the state. But mental illness is no laughing matter.

Rather than being the butt of a joke about how “crazy” people in Natchez must be or how something in the water must be causing the high rate of mental illness, we like to think about the issue in a different light.

Perhaps local families simply care more about one another and will stop at nothing to get loved ones the help they need?

Mental illness is among the most heart-wrenching problems facing families. It tears emotions to shreds and leaves families left with no place to turn sometimes than the legal system as a way of forcing mentally ill loved ones to get help.

The problem of how to house mentally unstable people, particularly those who are dangerous to themselves or to society, but have broken no laws, has been discussed for years.

Currently, the solution is to lock them up in two padded cells at the Adams County Jail, which doesn’t seem appropriate or fair.

Early discussions are under way with Merit Health Natchez owners about possibly converting a portion of the former Natchez Community Hospital facility into a mental health treatment or holding facility.

We encourage those discussions to continue, publicly, to ensure we all understand what could happen there, the costs and benefits available to all citizens.