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When Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.’s medical alert pendant accidentally went off five years ago, the 68-year-old told police who showed up that he was fine, barred them from entering his apartment and repeatedly asked them to go away. They didn’t. That set off a tense, 90-minute standoff that ended with the mentally ill, former Marine, shot dead. (Hays, 11/6)

This fiscal year began with $55 million in cuts to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and big questions about how they would be felt in a system that many say is already stretched to capacity. So far, many involved in the system say the impact has been mixed: Some agencies have been able to absorb reductions, while others have reduced hours, closed programs or laid off staff. (Levin Becker, 11/7)

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services has decided to abandon a pilot program that would have significantly expanded access to services for people seeking mental health help at eight of the state’s 40 public treatment centers, known as community services boards, or CSBs. The expansion was deemed too costly and ambitious. State officials instead are working on a plan to make changes at all 40 community services boards, saving money by spreading the reforms over the next decade. (Kleiner, 11/6)